Planning Solicitor, Ref EE00622
Salary G11, £42,614 to £47,665 per annum

Fixed Term 2 years

A fixed term 2 year position has arisen for a qualified solicitor to join the Built & Natural Environment Team in Legal Services.  The Team is sub-divided into a planning team and a property team.  This vacancy relates to the planning team.

The successful candidate will be expected to manage a wide ranging caseload of both straightforward and complex legal work of any nature relating to the built and natural environment, with a bias towards planning enforcement and prosecution work including governance. The main role will be to deal with planning enforcement matters, from advice on the complaint, guidance on the process, appeals and challenges, checking compliance through to prosecution and direct action. You will provide high quality well researched legal advice and assistance to client departments, to members of the Council and to Planning Committee.  Experience in planning is essential.   

You will be expected to work remotely from home for most of the time with occasional attendance at the office, in Walsall, to carry out specific tasks, to attend meetings and training, as required, and to attend Planning Committee and court hearings as required.  

Walsall Council exists to serve the people and communities of Walsall, by representing and working with them to protect and improve the quality of life for all - particularly the most vulnerable.  As a unitary authority, Walsall has responsibilities for the provision of all local government services within its administrative area.  The Built & Natural Environment Team provide legal advice and assistance on a very wide range of issues, from commons to listed buildings, redevelopment schemes to contamination.  This role will suit a lawyer with an analytical focus and an aptitude for research and problem solving. 

Walsall is a regional town with a rich history and a bright future with potential to deliver significant development and investment projects and is working in collaboration with the West Midlands Combined Authority and other public partners to deliver regeneration projects.

Walsall Council has been awarded £11.4m from central government for the Future High Street Fund Programme to help deliver a Connected Gateway project to enable the delivery of two of the Town Centre Masterplan interventions; Transforming the Rail Station and Connected Hubs and Walsall and Bloxwich town areas stand to benefit from £21.3m each of Town Deal funding through the governments Towns Fund programme to deliver urban regeneration, green transport and economic growth outcomes.

Historically Walsall was a regional market town with the first grant of royal charter in approximately 1220 and its market place established by 1309.  It then played a major part in the heavy industry of the Black Country during the industrial revolution, producing significant growth in the town and leaving a lasting legacy.  

As an employer Walsall provides an attractive employment package that includes:

• A generous annual leave entitlement offering a minimum 28 days leave per year (for this post) plus 9 concessionary days and a flexible working scheme that allows up to a further 12 days leave per year
• Access to an award winning pension scheme
• Recent investment in technology to fully enable agile working with the use of Microsoft Teams, virtual telephony, and Office 365
• A genuine commitment to equality of opportunity for our staff and customers – we aim to employ a representative workforce that reflects the communities we serve

We advertise vacancies because we want the best talent available. If that's you, we're waiting for your application.

View Job Description and Employee Specification

Should you have any queries or questions about this role, please contact:

Alison Sargent – Principal Solicitor Built & Natural Environment.

Tel: 01922 654834 / Email: alison.sargent@walsall.gov.uk

Alison Ives – Head of Planning & Building Control

Tel: 01922 652604, Mobile: 07385 348298 / Email alison.ives@walsall.gov.uk

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 25th May 2022