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The Friday Five 13.09.19

Published on: 13 Sep 2019

A round-up of the best and most interesting jobs on Planner Jobs this week.

George Washington window [square]1. A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY, BY GEORGE

What?

Lead specialist (community), Maldon District Council.

Where?

Red brick council offices just outside Maldon town centre in the east of Essex (on the Blackwater Estuary)

The job

"We are looking for someone dynamic who can bring excellent functional leadership into a multi-skilled specialist team. The role is extremely diverse with the functional responsibility for Environmental Health, Revenues and Benefits, Strategic Housing and Waste Contract Management.

"The postholder will be part of an extended management team who will work together to meet the corporate agenda dictated by national and local focus specific to the unique requirements of the Maldon District."

Maldon is a small town on the Blackwater Estuary in east Essex. The district as a whole is largely rural and lightly populated, with an ecology that ranges from tidal salt marshes to farmland and wooded ridges.

Fun fact

The church of All Saints in Maldon has a stained glass window memorial to George Washington, the first president of the United States. Washington's great great grandfather, the Reverend Lawrence Washington, was buried here in 1652.

The window, unveiled by an American diplomat in 1928, depicts Saint Nicholas with the Mayflower, the landing of the Mayflower in the Americas, George Washington himself, the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Statue of Liberty.

Find out more and apply

Slade [square]2. WEER ALL CRAZEE NOW

What?

Planning officer, regeneration - city planning, Wolverhampton City Council.

Where?

Wolverhampton Civic Centre, a large late 1970s office block in the city centre, opposite the 1930s Civic Hall (currently undergoing refurbishment).

The job

"We are looking for an enthusiastic and customer focused town planner with considerable experience of processing planning applications. In city planning we have developed a more effective and less bureaucratic way of working that benefits both our planners and those who want to develop in the city, providing a faster and more streamlined service that is boosting business confidence and investment, and producing high quality development.

"Wolverhampton is a Millennium City with a thousand years of history, located on the north-western fringe of the West Midlands conurbation, with the beautiful countryside of Shropshire and Staffordshire on the doorstep and excellent transport links to Birmingham, London, Manchester and Liverpool."

Fun fact

Numerous well-known musicians have emerged from Wolverhampton over the years, but none have matched the success of 70s glam rockers Slade. Most famous for the seasonal stalwart Merry Xmas Everybody, the band dominated the UK charts in the early to mid-70s and ended up the most successful UK band of the decade based on singles sales.

Overall, Slade had 17 consecutive top 20 hits and six number ones in the 1970s. their song titles were noted for their deliberate misspellings, which became a trend of the era - titles such as Mama Weer All Crazee Now, Cum On Feel The Noize and Skweeze Me Pleeze Me instantly stand out. Merry Xmas Everybody itself was actually recorded during a heatwave in New York in the Autumn of 1973.

Find out more and apply

Elizabeth "Dolly" Shepherd [square]3. HELLO DOLLY

What?

Senior planning officer (development management), Hertsmere Borough Council.

Where?

Red brick office block just over the road from Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Herts.

The job

"You will have shared responsibility for all aspects of development management processes inclusive of having your own caseload often dealing with more complex planning issues including pre-application and appeal work as required. You will also be expected to assist and guide more junior members of the team as well as provide support to management staff.

"Hertsmere is in the process of preparing a positive vision for growth within the borough through our new local plan. We are also working to provide a joint strategic plan for the area and striving to deliver a quality, focused development management service which meets the needs of existing and future residents."

Hertsmere itself is a mid-sized borough on the northern edge of London's urban area and incorporates the towns of Borehamwood, Elstree, Bushey, Radlett and Potters Bar.

Fun fact

In 1908, Potters Bar-born Edwardian parachutist and fairground entertainer, Elizabeth "Dolly" Shepherd performed the world's first mid-air rescue - of Edith Maud Cook, Britain's first female pilot.

Shepherd and Cook shared an act that included ascending on a trapeze hung from a hot air balloon, then parachuting to earth. On one occasion Cook's parachute failed to open and the resourceful Shepherd wrapped her arms and legs around her stricken friend so they could descend together on a single parachute. She saved Cook, but the impact of landing left Shepherd paralysed.

Amazingly, she regained full movement as a result of unintentionally powerful electric shock treatment and lived to the ripe old age of 97, passing in 1983.

Find out more and apply

Royal Mews [square]4. AN AMEWSING OPPORTUNITY?

What?

Scheme consultant with Citydesigner, an architecture, townscape and heritage consultancy in London.

Where?

Offices in a terrace of Grade II listed houses built in the early days of Queen Victoria's reign, just over the road from the Royal Mews in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, London.

The job

"The successful candidate will lead a number of prominent development projects and will ideally have experience of working within a team environment, either in private practice or in local government. Good knowledge of the heritage significance assessment process; of historical research methods; of planning guidance relating to new architecture in historic contexts and; of environmental statements. The consultancy will favourably consider experienced candidates with backgrounds in architecture but will also consider those with a planning background, particularly when they also hold urban design or conservation qualifications.

"Citydesigner is an architecture, townscape and heritage consultancy led by Richard Coleman, which advises on and assesses development proposals which affect the context of sensitive townscapes, listed buildings, conservation areas, World Heritage Sites, registered landscapes and other historic assets. The consultancy has contributed to some highly prominent recent development projects in London, Dublin and the south of England, including 30 St Mary Axe (‘The Gherkin’), Merrill Lynch’s European Headquarters at Newgate Street, The Holbourne Museum in Bath, ESB HQ in Dublin, Amex HQ in Brighton and the’ Nova project at Victoria."

Fun fact

Designed by the leading Georgian architect John Nash and completed in 1825, the Royal Mews is not actually a mews but stables (it was formerly a mews and kept the name). Here is where state coaches and other carriages are kept, along with about 30 horses and their modern equivalents, the 'state motor cars'.  The Royal Mews is regularly open to the public. 

Find out more and apply

Mount Judd [square]5. MAKE YOUR (LAND)MARK

What?

Planning officer (enforcement and monitoring), Warwickshire County Council.

Where?

The grade I listed Shire Hall in Warwick city centre.

The job

"Warwickshire County Council are seeking to appoint a planning officer who will specialise in the enforcement of planning controls and the monitoring of existing landfill and mineral extraction sites to ensure compliance with planning regulations dealt with by the County Council.

"Warwickshire is a "two tier" shire county and the County Council is responsible for all "county matter" planning applications. These applications relate to mineral extraction, waste disposal and recycling and the production of cement.

"The post would be located within the development management team which is part of the planning delivery group which is engaged in the economic development of Warwickshire."

Warwick is a historic, mid-sized market town and the county town town of Warwickshire in the West Midlands. A blend of rural and industrial environments, the county includes a number of medium to large market towns including Nuneaton, Rugby, Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon.

Fun fact

'Mount Judd', a 158 metre high conical shaped former spoil heap in Nuneaton, was voted the best UK landmark in an online poll for the Daily Mirror in 2018.

The hill, made from spoil from the former Judkins Quarry, beat other landmarks that included the Angel of the North and Big Ben. Known locally as 'the Nuneaton Nipple', Mount Judd can be seen for miles around.

Find out more and apply

Photos | Jon Cogswell (Washington window), AVRO (Slade), Shutterstock, Matt Fascione (Mount Judd)