Job profile for Senior Planning Policy Officer

Job Details

Job title: Senior Planning Policy Officer (Monitoring and S106)

Salary/Grade: Grade 5

Service: Planning Service - Planning Policy Team

Reports to: Principal Planning Policy Officer

Manages/Supervises: N/A

Job purpose

To actively contribute to the Planning Policy Team and Planning Service in achieving Council and service objectives and targets.

Responsible for the monitoring of S106 agreements and managing the requests for collection and subsequent distribution of related financial developer contributions arising from S106 agreements to enable the delivery of infrastructure required to support growth.

Principal Accountabilities

• To lead on the management, collection and publication of monitoring information and data to assist with the planning of the District, including the formulation and implementation of the Local Plan. This will include production of the housing trajectory, Authority Monitoring Report and Infrastructure Funding Statement. This role will also assist with the preparation and publication of the Council’s Five Year Housing Land Supply Statements and associated monitoring requirements including submission of responses to DELTA in relation to housing delivery.
• To contribute to Local Plan preparation, production, review and delivery and related planning policy workstreams, such as associated Supplementary Planning Guidance and development plan documents as well as undertaking associated studies and assessments to develop an appropriate evidence base.
• In conjunction with the Planning Policy Team, to carry out public consultations.
• Support and liaise with the Local Plans Team and key stakeholders, to review and implement Planning Policies and Strategies in relation to planning obligations and developer contributions as well as producing the housing trajectory, as part of ongoing work to ensure Council Policies are up to date and fit for purpose.
• Lead on the establishment and maintenance effective arrangements for proactively securing compliance with all Section 106 planning obligations, including ‘trigger points’ for either payments or specific actions.
• Manage the distribution and spend of planning obligations, including the delivery of community infrastructure in partnership and collaboration with key internal and external partners.
• Oversee regular review of planning approvals to identify extant S106 agreements and to ensure that any urgent actions required to safeguard payments is taken.
• To provide relevant Council departments with up to date S106 monitoring information to inform their spending decisions and ensure optimum use of available funds and answer a range of internal and external queries relating to planning obligations including audits.
• To deal with enquiries on Section 106 agreements from elected Members, parish and town councils, the local community and developers and/or their agents
• To lead on ensuring compliance with planning obligations, managing financial transactions associated with S106 agreements and liaise with Planning Enforcement/Development Management as necessary.
• Identify improvements and efficiencies in the management of Developer Contributions within the team and across the wider organization.
• To arrange and lead quarterly S.106 Monitoring Group meetings with key officers from other services responsible for delivering projects funded or partly funded by S.106 contributions ensuring that all financial contributions are spent within the time specified by the individual planning agreement to which it relates and take action to rectify any issues arising including notification of key issues to Head of Service/Corporate Director level.
• To liaise with finance officers to ensure financial records relating to S106 are recorded and managed.
• Working with other internal and external stakeholders, identify relevant and compliant projects for Section 106 financial contributions for new developments.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for the appropriate committees of the Council.
• To act as an expert witness for planning appeals and within the Local Plan examination on the matter of housing land supply.
• Responsible for protecting and managing information securely, and reporting breaches or suspected information security breaches, in line with Council policies.
• Any other associated duties detailed by Principal Planning Policy Officer.

Corporate Accountabilities

• To take responsibility for maintaining own health and attendance. 
• To support, contribute and comply with quality and governance procedures as directed by management.
• To apply and actively promote the principles of the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy in all areas of employment and service delivery.
• Any other associated duties detailed by Head of Service or his representative.
• To advise Line manager if, at any time, the above duties and responsibilities cannot be performed.
• Any other duties as required to support the business, including maintaining business continuity and during civil emergencies.
• To apply and actively promote the principles of the Council’s Safeguarding Procedure in all areas of employment and service delivery.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

(Tested at application and interview stage)

Experience and Qualifications

(E - Essential, D - Desirable)

• Educated to degree level with formal RTPI accredited qualification in Town and Country Planning. (E)
• Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), or eligible for Membership. (D)
• A current valid driving licence and access to a vehicle. (D)
• Experience of development and management of a monitoring system (D)
• Experience in using MS Office (including Word, Excel) (E)
• Experience of Planning Appeals including Hearings/Public Inquiries (E)
• Experience of working within planning (E)

Skills and Knowledge

• Knowledge and understanding of CIL Regulations, Statutory Guidance and Section 106 Agreements
• Working knowledge of planning law, 5 year housing land supply, standard method and housing monitoring
• Knowledge of case law and government guidance and commitment to keeping up to date
• Excellent understanding of national planning policies and current planning issues.
• A sound understanding of the local plan process
• Excellent organisational, interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to write clear reports in plain English with excellent presentation skills
• Ability to accurately collate, analyse and present information and data in a clear and concise manner
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Use initiative and work with minimal supervision
• Able to meet objectives and strict deadlines and to be able to work under pressure
• Good customer service
• Good team working including working across teams and working collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders
• Be able to work flexibly, using the Council’s IT systems and central government systems (e.g. Delta housing return system) to help plan and programme your own work and complete this within agreed time limits.

Competencies

We test this at interview stage

Communicating Effectively 

Demonstrate the effective use of the range of communication methods available: written, spoken, electronic, and use these methods in appropriate ways suitable to the context and situation

• Present spoken communication in a polite, friendly and respectful manner seeking to ensure mutual understanding.
• Listen well and seek clarification and understanding, avoiding jumping to conclusions or making assumptions.
• Present information and ideas in a clear and understandable way which avoids jargon.
• Seek to understand the communication needs of colleagues and customers, being mindful of equality issues and the diverse needs of the range of people we work with.
• Choose the most appropriate method of communication for the situation, seeking to avoid using one fixed style or approach.

Performing efficiently and effectively 

Promote good performance, developing clear, structured and efficient ways of managing workload and delivering results.  Staff should challenge themselves and others to perform well, and to adhere to the Council’s performance management systems

• Ensure that all work carried out by you is in line with business and service plans and supports the overall aims and ambition of the Council.
• Plan your workload effectively, reporting achievements and problems to appropriate managers and project leaders.
• See tasks and objectives through to completion.
• Approach challenges with drive and enthusiasm.
• Strive for continuous improvement in your work and manage your learning and development to enable you to perform to the best of your ability.

Using and managing resources efficiently and effectively

Demonstrate the effective and efficient use of the full range of resources used in and by the Council including time, finances, staffing, equipment, information, materials, buildings, etc.

• Take responsibility for managing your time, seeking efficient ways to carry out your work, maximising your output and minimising wastage.
• Use and acquire materials effectively and efficiently minimising wastage, recycling where possible, and striving for cost effectiveness.
• Seek out ways to improve the use of resources.

Engaging with the customer

Understand the needs and requirements of their customers, to provide excellent customer service, and to involve customers in the improvement of services

• Provide a helpful and friendly service to customers both internally and externally.
• Take responsibility for following up on enquiries and solving customer issues.
• Make efforts to fully understand the customer’s needs and avoid assuming that “we know best”.
• Ensure that you have a full understanding of the needs and requirements of the customer.
• Seek feedback from internal and external customers on the effectiveness and efficiency of the service you provide.

Working well together

Actively foster good working relationships with colleagues and customers in order to collectively achieve the Council’s direction and ambition

• Co-operate and work well with colleagues at all levels of the organisation seeking collective responsibility for the achievement of goals.
• Demonstrate consideration and respect for others feelings and opinions and avoid judging and making assumptions.
• Maintain positive working relationships with external contacts in order to maintain the reputation of the Council.
• Seek to actively solve problems and avoid passing the issue on to others or leaving the problem unresolved.
• Demonstrate self-awareness of your style of working and develop flexibility and adaptability in order to work well with others.

Other conditions

• This post doesn't require a DBS check 
• This post is politically restricted

Job profile updated
June 2026

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