The Friday Five 22.02.19
A round-up of five of the best, most interesting, significant or unusual jobs on Planner Jobs this week.
1. (NOT) BREEDING LIKE RABBITS
What?
Head of planning and economic development, Waverley Borough Council.
Where?
Purpose-built offices in the centre of Godalming, a small, historic market town in Surrey.
The job
"Waverley is tasked with building 500 new homes each year. By bringing economic development and planning closer together, our aim is to inspire greater cohesion between major development projects and long-term growth. So there are plenty of opportunities to shape your legacy here. As a credible, qualified planner, you will bring a strong ‘customer first’ perspective and the holistic vision needed to see opportunities and drive change."
Waverley is a mid-sized borough in south west Surrey with a population of roughly 125,000. Centred on Godalming, it also incorporates the towns of Haslemere and Farnham, the large village of Cranleigh and numerous villages. In 2016, it was reported to be the most prosperous council area in Britain.
Fun fact
An 18th century maidservant from Godalming fooled the medical profession into believing she had given birth to rabbits. In 1726, the foremost doctors of the day, including Nathaniel St. André, surgeon to the Royal Household, examined Mary Toft and concluded that she had, indeed, produced rabbits from her body. The hoax was only found out when a porter was caught smuggling a dead rabbit into her room. Several medical reputations were ruined by the affair.
2. BLUE SIMON
What?
Senior planning officer, Derbyshire Dales District Council.
Where?
Purpose-built offices behind the Town Hall in central Matlock, next door to BBC Radio Derby. On the edge of the Peak District.
The job
"An opportunity has arisen to work within Derbyshire Dales District Council’s development management team to help deliver the overall vision, objectives and policies of the recently adopted Derbyshire Dales Local Plan.
"Dealing with a varied caseload of mainly complex work you will need to be an experienced and confident planner with a proven track record of delivering high quality development, whilst being able to maximise the benefits resulting from new development for existing and future residents of the District."
Derbyshire Dales is a large, mainly rural, district with a population of around 72,000 and encompasses a good number of villages and small towns that include Bakewell, Ashbourne and Derbyshire's county town, Matlock. Matlock itself is on the edge of the Peak District National Park and has relatively easy access to Derby, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester.
Fun fact
Former Blue Peter presenter Simon Groom, beloved of 1980s children, now runs a sheep farm and B&B in Matlock. Aside from his excellence as a presenter, Groom was noted for his capacity to deliver with a straight face double entendres that would go above the head of his audience. Famously, during a piece on a replacement door knocker at Durham Cathedral, he declared: "What a beautiful pair of knockers."
3. CARRY ON PLANNING
What?
New Community Officer, East Devon District Council.
Where?
New purpose-built offices on an industrial estate just outside Honiton, Devon.
The job
"This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced planner to support the development management team to deliver the objectives and priorities of the Cranbrook New Community. Cranbrook is already a vibrant and thriving community that is home to over 3,000 people. You will be at the forefront of guiding the expansion to nearly 8,000 homes and delivering everything that is needed - from sports pitches to employment spaces - to ensure that it is a truly sustainable new town."
The vision for Cranbrook is to create a self-sufficient, low-carbon new community in close proximity to skilled employment opportunities, encouraging people to use sustainable modes of transport.
East Devon itself is a large region encompassing a number of urban districts and smaller villages, but is dominated by two AONBs and a long portion of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.
Fun fact
The (serious) playwright and novelist R F Delderfield, a resident of Sidmouth, inadvertently gave birth to the (very silly) Carry On Film series. Delderfield, had written a successful play called The Bull Boys, about a pair of ballet dancers whose romantic relationship is tested by their experiences of conscription. The play fell into the hands of film producer Peter Rogers, once described as "the cinematic equivalent of the risqué seaside postcard artist Donald McGill", who decided it would work better as a comedy. Thus Carry on Sergeant (cast photo above) was born...
4. FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
What?
Senior planner, Publica/ West Oxfordshire District Council.
Where?
Purpose-built council offices on the outskirts of Witney in Oxfordshire.
The job
"Publica is an innovative council-owned organisation which delivers shared services to Cotswold, Forest of Dean and West Oxfordshire District Councils, Cheltenham Borough Council, Cheltenham Trust, Cheltenham Borough Homes and Ubico.
"This particular post is for West Oxfordshire and you will be responsible for processing some of the more complex planning applications and issues, related pre-application advice, general enquiries, enforcement and appeals."
A large district that is mainly rural downland and forest, West Oxfordshire incorporates a sizeable chunk of the Cotswolds AONB, as well as several market towns and villages.
Fun fact
In July 1549 the vicar of Chipping Norton, Henry Joyes, was hanged from the belltower of his own church for his part as ringleader in a popular uprising. The Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Rising was a protest against religious reforms (including the Chantries Act and the introduction of the Common Book of Prayer) and a series of enclosure acts. The rising was brutally oppressed by Lord Grey de Wilton, and Joyes paid the ultimate price.
5. ROMAN AROUND
What?
Two roles: Senior Planner or Planning Case Officer; and a Senior Enforcement Planner or an Enforcement Planning Officer, with Publica/Cotswold District Council.
Where?
Council offices just outside central Cirencester, Gloucestershire.
The job
"Publica is seeking to recruit a senior planner or planning case officer and a senior enforcement planner or an enforcement planning officer to process planning applications, related pre-application advice, general enquiries, appeals and enforcement work. The complexity and nature of the work will reflect the experience, competencies and qualifications of the successful applicant.
"There could be an opportunity for a dual role within the service, enabling the successful candidate to work within both the development management team and the enforcement team."
Cotswold District Council covers a beautiful and historic part of England, with more than 6,000 listed buildings in a district that is 70 per cent AONB. The market town of Cirencester, sitting where the Fosse Way meets the River Churn, can trace its roots back to the Roman era and beyond.
Fun fact
Cirencester - known to the Romans as Corinium - was Britain's second largest city by area during the Roman era and may have been the capital of Britannia Prima in the third century CE. Many signs of Roman occupation remain, including parts of the city wall, a forum and basilica.
Find out more and apply
Images | iStock, Rocking Summer (Blue Peter badge), Community Archives (Carry on Sergeant cast photo), Richard Rogerson (St Mary's Church)
