Planning Technical Services Officer (Digital Improvements)

Planning Technical Services Officer (Digital Improvements) - 12 months Fixed Term Contract

Post No: TBC

Salary: Starting from £30,559 to £35,235 per annum

Grade: Grade 5

Hours: 37 hours per week

Place of work: Worthing Town Hall/Hybrid

Closing date: 8th June 2025

Interviews: TBC

Adur & Worthing Councils have recently benefitted from funding from the government’s Open Digital Planning Programme. This has enabled the Councils to become part of a community of Local Planning Authorities dedicated to rethinking and modernising planning processes. We are therefore seeking to transform our planning service to be a leader in using innovative digital solutions that streamline planning for everyone involved as part of a data driven efficient planning system. 

The primary duty of this post is therefore to support a digital by default approach, alongside outstanding administrative and technical services, enabling an innovative and outcomes-focused service, looking for, and implementing opportunities to streamline operations - seeking digital solutions to improve outcomes and processes. This post has been developed with particular regard to the government’s Open Digital Planning programme for which the Councils have received funding to improve its digital offer within the Planning Department

In addition, you will have the opportunity to be involved in the day to day task of our busy planning department’s administration team. 

You will support the Planning Technical Services Team Leader by ensuring that all technical and administration procedures regarding the formal registration of planning applications submitted to the council are efficiently and accurately completed. 

You will also provide technical and administrative support to planning Development Management.

Assisting customers, agents and members of the public in interpreting the planning system, relevant planning regulations, drawings and technical information when answering telephone, written and reception enquiries. You will also process householder or other minor applications in accordance with relevant legislation when required.

In your role, you will provide a one-stop service to meet the needs of your internal and external customers, ensuring the provision of an accurate, timely and cost-effective service within nationally/locally agreed performance targets, while maintaining accurate registers and systems in accordance with statutory/agreed requirements.

If this sounds like the role for you, we look forward to hearing from you!

At Adur & Worthing, we are committed to supporting care leavers, in accordance with the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and the Children and Social Work Act 2017. To that end, we operate a guaranteed interview scheme for anyone meeting the essential criteria of the role they are applying for. In order to be considered for this, you will need to be a care leaver under the age of 25 at the time of application. Please confirm that you are a care leaver in the "Showing how you meet the person specification and job description" section of the application form. 

As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of applicants declaring a disability, that meet the essential criteria for this position, will be offered an interview. 

Staff are our most important asset and we therefore have a benefit package which reflects our continuing commitment to our employees.  This includes:

• Generous leave entitlement; a minimum of 26 days + Bank Holiday entitlement
• Local Government Pension
• Training & development
• Occupational Health
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Employee resource groups/networks 
• Buddy Support Programme  
• Flexible working options

We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. Staff work in a supportive and safe environment, recognising their responsibility to value and respect each other’s contributions. Standards of conduct must be of the highest level to ensure that no-one is harassed, bullied or victimised. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, staff engagement forums and are keen to hear from applicants from a variety of different backgrounds.