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Chief Planning Inspector, Welsh Government

Employer
Welsh Government
Location
Any of the following Welsh Government offices - Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Llandudno Junction and Aberystwyth and also includes home/remote working
Salary
Salary: circa £71,000 per annum although more may be available for an exceptional candidate.
Closing date
27 Sep 2021

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Chief Planning Inspector, Welsh Government

Any of the following Welsh Government offices - Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Llandudno Junction and Aberystwyth and also includes home/remote working

Purpose of Post:

The Chief Planning Inspector will be responsible for the overall leadership and management of Planning and Environment Decisions Wales, ensuring that it is effective and fit for purpose. This includes leadership on both operational and professional matters. The successful candidate will also be expected, to contribute to the management of the Welsh Government as a whole where this is compatible with the role. In addition the post holder needs to play a figurehead role within the planning service in Wales, where the Chief Planning Inspector provides a well-respected, objective and impartial view on the effective operation of the planning system and profession - and improvements to it - to all stakeholders including Welsh Ministers. The Chief Planning Inspector will also represent Wales at UK level meetings and with the Chief Planning Inspectors and senior policy officials from other administrations.

Inspectors are built environment and environmental judges, arbitrating in disputes on land use and environmental matters. Given the range of work that is undertaken, Inspectors and the Chief Planning Inspector are required to have an extensive and detailed knowledge of the wide range of policy and legislation which is relevant to the work of Planning and Environment Decisions Wales. The Chief Planning Inspector will be responsible for ensuring complete impartiality of decision making. They will also be required to report any concerns about maintaining impartiality or any perceptions by others regarding impartiality, direct to the Permanent Secretary.

The role engages directly with local authority officers and elected members to assist them in achieving the adoption of Strategic and Local Development Plans and in training and upskilling local government members and officers to enable the examination of plans to run smoothly, as well as giving impartial advice on key components of the evidence base. The Chief Planning Inspector sets the bar for evidence standards supporting the plan and will also be expected to offer informal advice on the strategy and evidence base supporting draft plans. 

The post holder is responsible for the £3m programme budget for the operation of the service, as well as for the management of fee income earned from the processing of various casework on behalf of others. This fee income offsets the running costs of the service and is typically worth some £1million annually.

The post holder needs to play an important professional leadership role and will be expected to participate regularly in academic and professional activities to develop and enhance the operation of the planning system in Wales. The Chief Planning Inspector will also need to engage with local planning authority members where concerns have been raised about local decisions being overturned on appeal.

Terms of Appointment: This post is a permanent post. It is available to permanent UK Civil Service employees (recruited through fair and open competition) on a lateral and promotion basis. This post is also available on a permanent basis to those who wish to join the Civil Service and to those who wish to apply on a secondment basis.

Salary: circa £71,000 per annum although more may be available for an exceptional candidate.

Work Pattern: This is a full time post, available on a full-time or job-share basis. It is expected that if you apply as a job share partnership, this arrangement is in place when submitting your application.

Location - Any of the following Welsh Government offices - Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Llandudno Junction and Aberystwyth and also includes home/remote working.  We are supportive of home working and tailoring patterns to suit individuals’ circumstances. The majority of Welsh Government staff are currently working from home/working remotely and this will continue to some degree to so that we can reduce our environmental impact and support people to work closer to the communities they live in.

Interviews will be held on 29/10/2021

For more information about this role and how to apply, please access by clicking on the 'Apply Button'

The closing date for applications is 12:00 noon on 27/09/2021.

A large print, Braille or audio version of this advert can be obtained by request from 03000 255454.

 

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