Senior Lawyer (Planning & Highways) (E2757)
An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Council’s legal planning & highways team
Location: Crewe
Job Category: Legal and Governance
Grade: CEC NJC – Grade 11
Salary Min: £45,291 Per Annum
Salary Max: £51,989 Per Annum
Hours per week: 37
Weeks per year: 52.143
Employment Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 18/11/2024
Ref No: E2757
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are seeking an experienced Senior Planning & Highways Lawyer to work within the Planning & Highways Team (Legal Services). This role will provide legal and procedural advice and services in the most effective and efficient way to meet the requirements of the Council as a whole and specific Services and Departments.
The successful candidate will be working predominantly on Planning law matters, including (but not limited to): drafting complex s.106 agreements and deeds of variation; advising on planning appeals and challenges to planning decisions; advising the Planning department on all aspects of Planning Enforcement law and strategy, including Enforcement Notices; Breach of Condition Notices; Stop and Temporary Stop Notices and Lawful Development Certificates. The successful candidate will be expected to keep up to date with planning legislation and developments in policy and assist in reviewing and updating the Council’s Development Plan documents.
There will also be a requirement to attend Planning Committees and assist the Team Manager with support and development of junior lawyers within the team.
The role is diverse with no one day the same, for more information on the role please view the “In this job you will” section in the attached JDPS document.
ABOUT YOU
You will have:
• An excellent working knowledge of property law together with an innovative, commercial approach to ensuring the delivery of a high quality legal service.
• the ability to work as part of a team and be flexible, enthusiastic and committed as the role will involve providing support to the senior lawyers in the team whilst managing your own caseload
• excellent communication skills, be able to work under pressure and to prioritise your workload to meet tight deadlines.
• the ability to work collaboratively with project teams and client departments to ensure good client relations.
• excellent drafting skills, the ability to provide concise and clear advice, negotiate and carry out legal research and analysis.
• The ability and willingness to expand your legal skills and apply yourself to novel areas of the team’s work which may not be currently within your own expertise.
You will be required to provide training to clients and stakeholders as required.
Experience gained in a Local Authority setting would assist as would a sound understanding of local government and administrative law, and an appreciation of the challenges facing local authorities is key to the role.
You will report to the Principal Lawyer (team manager) and supervise colleagues in the Legal Service as appropriate.
To find out more about our essential and desirable criteria for the role please view the “In this job you will” section in the attached JDPS document.
WHAT WE GIVE IN RETURN
• ENHANCED ANNUAL LEAVE – 34 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays) from day 1, increasing up to 39 days after only 5 years’ service
• ENHANCED PUBLIC PENSION – A career average pension (contributions built at a rate of 1/49th of your yearly pensionable pay
• FLEXIBLE WORKING PATTERN – 37-hour standard full time working week with flexi time and hybrid/remote working arrangements
• PURCHASE OF ANNUAL LEAVE – The ability to purchase up to 10 days’ extra annual leave each year in addition to your normal annual leave entitlements (this is pro-rata for part time staff)
• CYCLE TO WORK SCHEME – Receive Income Tax and National Insurance savings of up to 25-39% off the retail price of the bike and safety equipment package (savings dependent on the value of your chosen package and your tax status
• EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME – A completely free to use and confidential assistance service for all employees to help staff manage, reduce and overcome the impact of life issues which they may experience from time to time, both within work and their personal life
• PAID VOLUNTEER LEAVE – Up to two days paid leave per year to volunteer for local organisations in the borough of Cheshire East
• VIRGIN MEDIA AND O2 DISCOUNTS – Exclusive discounts on Virgin Media Broadband and O2 pay monthly plans.
• DISCOUNTED GYM MEMBERSHIPS – Access to corporate membership prices for Everybody Leisure which includes:
• Gym, Swim and Group Fitness at all 16 facilities
• Off-Peak Racket Sports
• Athletics Tracks
• Sauna/Steam/Spa
To find out more about our rewards and benefits package, please click here
Documents
QAQC4060- Senior Lawyer ( Place) JD PS.pdf
Cheshire East is an amazing place to live and work. As one of the largest employers in the borough, we are able to offer you a wide range of challenging and rewarding career opportunities.
At Cheshire East Council we are working for a brighter future – together and our commitment to you is that our workplace culture will provide a shared purpose, a well-led organisation with valued people succeeding together as one team and one council to deliver the best service for our customers and communities.
If you want to be part of our award-winning council and contribute to our ongoing success, have the flexibility and drive to enable us to innovate, are committed to working as part of a team and striving to deliver exceptional service wherever you can, we would especially like to hear from you.
As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our local communities so that we can all work for a brighter future – together.
www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/employee-benefits.aspx
HOW TO APPLY
If you want to be part of our award-winning council and contribute to our ongoing success, have the flexibility and drive to enable us to innovate, are committed to working as part of a team and striving to deliver exceptional service wherever you can, we would especially like to hear from you. To apply for the role please click Senior Lawyer (Planning & Highways) (E2757), or, for or an informal chat about the role please contact James Thomas.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information please contact James Thomas (Principal Lawyer) via email; james.thomas@cheshireeast.gov.uk;
Cheshire East Council is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults across the Borough. As such, any cautions, convictions, reprimands or final warnings that are ‘not protected’ as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) order 1975 (as amended in 2013) relating to the non-disclosure of spent convictions do not apply to this job. You must therefore, disclose whether you have any previous convictions where prompted to do so within the application process.
Please ensure you check the email account (including junk/spam boxes) from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date then it is likely that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion, however please do not be discouraged from applying again.
For any technical enquiries please email sourcingteam@ecwip.co.uk
Please quote job reference number in all correspondence.
