The Friday Five 23.11.18
A round-up of five of the best, most interesting, significant or unusual jobs on Planner Jobs this week.
1. NO PLAN IS AN ISLAND
What?
Chief planning officer, St Helena Island, South Atlantic (3 year contract).
Where?
St Helena, a small sub-tropical island and self-governing British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean.
The job
"Help to protect and enhance our island's built heritage and natural environment, bringing conservation to the front of decision making.
"You will have a background in development control, including team management in public or private sector planning. You will have strong and broad knowledge of legal, policy and procedural planning systems.
"Understanding the statutory planning process and the development of public policy and its impact on the public, you will be able to plan, allocate and progress work, manage time and meet deadlines."
Basically, it's leading the planning team on St Helena, a remote volcanic island located 2,500 miles east of Rio de Janeiro and 1,200 miles west of Namibia. It's just 47 square miles in size and has a population of 4,500. Until recently it was only accessible by boat, but a newly opened airport offers commercial flights from Johannesburg.
Fun fact
Between 1791 and 1833, Saint Helena, which had experienced deforestation through grazing by imported livestock, became the site of a series of experiments in conservation, reforestation and attempts to boost rainfall artificially. The experiments arguably helped to establish the roots of environmentalism. Oh, St Helena is also where Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled after the Battle of Waterloo.
2. BENE 'N' WHAT?
What?
Planning team manager, Burnley Borough Council.
Where?
The grand and handsome late Victorian town hall in central Burnley.
The job
"This key role is an exciting opportunity to manage and lead Burnley Council’s development control service. You will lead a team of planners and support officers to deliver a highly efficient and responsive planning application and enforcement service that promotes sustainable growth.
"In recent years Burnley has seen significant economic and housing growth and is in the top 10 in the UK for private sector jobs growth. Working closely with the head of service you will be instrumental in promoting and delivering our ambitious growth agenda."
Burnley is a large market town in Lancashire, with a borough-wide population of around 88,000. It's about 20 miles north of Manchester and has a reputation as a regional centre of excellence for the manufacturing and aerospace industries.
Fun fact
Burnley Miners' Club is the world's largest consumer of Bénédictine, the French herbal liqueur, and apparently even has its own Bénédictine Lounge. It's been popular since returning soldiers brought it back from the Normandy after the First World War; locals drink it with hot water, known as "Bene 'n' Hot".
3. A MAY MORNING IN MALVERN HILLS
What?
Senior planning officer, Malvern Hills District Council.
Where?
The council house, an attractive Victorian mansion on the edge of the Malvern Hills AONB, near Worcester in the West Midlands.
The job
"Malvern Hills District Council seeks a senior planning officer to join its proactive and customer focused development control service to handle a variety of planning applications and appeals including those for major development.
"The successful applicant will need to have experience of handling a broad range of development proposals but specific experience of handling applications and appeals relating to major residential schemes."
Malvern Hills District Council describes itself as a "small, progressive local authority, situated in one of the country's most attractive areas". Malvern, is a small former spa town and and the council area has a population of around 77,000.
Fun fact
The opening of William Langland's (pictured) famous 14th century poem Piers Plowman takes place "in a Mayes morwnynge on Malverne hulles" ('on a May morning in Malvern Hills'). Langland was reputedly educated in Malvern and several roads and buildings in the town are named after him. Piers Plowman is considered to be one of the greatest English literary works of the Middle Ages and influenced Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
4. A STROLL ALONG THE PROM
What?
Planning enforcement officer, Wirral Council.
Where?
In the grand early 20th century Wallasey Town Hall on the banks of the River Mersey, opposite the soon-to-be-regenerated Liverpool Waters.
The job
"You'll deal with all matters in respect of planning enforcement, including investigations, negotiating and advising to achieve satisfactory resolution/compliance, carrying out assessments of harm and expediency, taking appropriate enforcement action, dealing with enforcement appeals and attending court proceedings as required.
"We're looking for people who are well networked, with the drive and ambition to help us deliver. We are a high delivering, high performing council and you will share these attributes."
The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral has a population of 322,000 - Wallasey, at the peninsula's northern tip has 60,000 residents. Despite being quite urbanised, Wirral still has picturesque villages, sandy beaches and internationally important wildlife habitats.
Fun fact
The Wirral's Regency holiday resort, New Brighton, is home to the United Kingdom's longest promenade at 3.5 kilometres. In its heyday, it also boasted - apparently - Britain's highest tower, the largest theatre stage in the world, Europe's biggest outdoor swimming pool and the country's first amusement arcade.
5. JOIN THE PLANNING JETSET
What?
Principal policy and research officer, East Lindsey District Council.
Where?
The small village of Manby just outside Louth, Lincolnshire (population 759).
The job
"In the position of principal policy and research officer you will lead a team of four policy planners, co-ordinate the work of the planning policy and research team and project manage delivery of local plan. You will also be the council`s lead officer with regard to housing policy."
Located midway between the picturesque coast and the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB, East Lindsey has a population of approximately 138,000. A mix of market towns and rural villages, it has a rich architectural heritage, with 17 conservation areas, 1,400 listed buildings and 150 scheduled ancient monuments.
Fun fact
The roads opposite the council offices are named Vampire, Valiant, Meteor, Javelin, Provost, Hunter, Canberra and Swift. All are named after postwar British fighter jets and bombers and reveal the village's former life as an RAF base. RAF Manby functioned from 1938 until 1974; the streets named above were once home to RAF personnel. East Lindsey Council HQ inhabits a former RAF building.
Photos | iStock, Shutterstock, Lepidus Magnus (William Langland)
