Appointment title:	Non-Executive Director.
Organisation:	The Planning Inspectorate
Location:	Bristol, with occasional meetings in London and Cardiff
Start date of appointment:	By agreement November - December 2008
Closing date for applications:	30 May 2008
Length of appointment:	2 years, with a further 2 year extension by mutual agreement
Time commitment:	15 days per year (approximately)
Remuneration:	£430 per day
Expenses:	Travel and subsistence expenses and, if appropriate, care costs in accordance with Inspectorate rules.

Link to the advert on the Direct Gov website

1. The Planning Inspectorate is a “next steps” Executive Agency in both the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and the National Assembly for Wales. It is unique in being the only Executive Agency to serve more than one Government department. It has been an Executive Agency since 1992 but can trace its history back to 1909.

2. Its mission is to use its impartial expertise in planning and land use to help shape well-planned environments and deliver sustainable development. In dealing with planning and other casework it follows the principles of fairness, openness and impartiality.

3. The largest component of its work is to determine appeals against the decisions of local planning authorities to refuse planning permission or to take enforcement action against alleged breaches of planning control. In addition, it carries out examinations into local planning authorities’ Development Plan Documents.

4. Apart from DCLG/Welsh Assembly, the Inspectorate carries out work for a wide range of government departments, agencies and local authorities on (eg) major road schemes, power stations, pipelines, harbour/railway works, listed buildings, rights of way and national parks.

5. The casework varies in size from, at the one extreme, a multi-million pound development of a nuclear power station, a wind-farm, shopping mall or major road tunnel to, at the other, proposals for a single house in the green belt or for a loft extension or the change of use of a shop to a take-away restaurant or to an appeal under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act relating to high hedges. In all there are some 200 statutory provisions under which the Inspectorate could be required to operate.

6. The Inspectorate is currently the only source of expertise within government for undertaking this work.

7. The key priorities for the Inspectorate over the next two years are to:-

a. Take forward ministerial priorities arising out of the Planning Bill that is currently going through Parliament;

b. Work in partnership with DCLG and Government Offices (GOs) to respond to the challenge of the modern spatial planning system and to ensure that there is a clear programme of priority Development Plan Document submissions;

c. Introduce the Fast Track Householder appeal service;

d. Introduce the improved appeals service including for example the determination, on behalf of the Secretary of State, of the method of appeal;

e. Play a full part with DCLG in the provision of new guidance to appellants on process and procedures;

f. Work closely with DCLG in the promotion of the introduction of charging for appeals;

g. Pilot the use of the 2005 Major Infrastructure Procedure Rules for the Stansted 2 inquiry ahead of the introduction of an Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC);

h. Prepare for the loss of some nationally significant infrastructure casework and the absorption of minor infrastructure casework following the creation of the IPC;

i. Absorb the work currently undertaken by GOs and DCLG on tree preservation order appeals (TPOs);

j. Continue our smarter working practices pilots and management interventions in order to achieve increases in overall productivity;

k. Continue our investment in education, learning and support to the planning community as a whole in disseminating knowledge and best practice on both the development plan and the wider planning process;

l. Ensure effective business planning, including putting funding and sponsorship arrangements on a sound footing;

m. Modernise the appeal process so that it is proportionate and customer focussed;

n. Drive innovation and achieve efficiency and productivity gains; and

o. Continue to review its management structure to ensure that it meets the needs of stakeholders and customers.

8. The Inspectorate’s corporate governance arrangements consist of a Strategic Management Board, which directs the Inspectorate’s work within the parameters laid down in its Framework Document. The Board consists of the Management Team plus three Non-Executive Directors. One of the Non-Executives is Chairperson of the Audit Committee; the other two are members of the Committee.

9. The role of the Non-Executive Directors is to contribute to collective Board decisions on matters such as business planning, policy, strategy, performance, resources and Corporate Governance. They are appointed to provide an external perspective, to challenge and scrutinise and to provide knowledge and independent advice according to their individual areas of expertise based on their wider experience in other organisations.

10. The appointment of one of the current Non-Executives comes to an end on 31 December 2008. It is proposed to make a fresh appointment and for this to be effective on agreed dates during the period November to December 2008.

Personal profile - experience

11. In their application the successful candidate will have demonstrated: a. significant senior level experience in central/local government or the private sector; b. knowledge of the workings of government and government agencies ; and c. their ability to play an active role in the overall development of a Strategic Board.

12. The successful candidate will:-

a. be a team player with a collaborative approach;

b. have excellent communication skills with the capacity to readily gain the confidence of stakeholders and to be an ambassador to the organisation;

c. have the ability to absorb complex information, to strategically challenge and prioritise, and to scrutinise management performance;

d. have sound judgement and a high level of integrity;

e. have the ability to challenge and influence effectively;

f. be perceptive, with good powers of observation and the ability to read situations and respond appropriately;

g. have expertise in corporate governance, risk management and internal control;

h. have knowledge of town and country planning issues and the ability to contribute to the development of the Inspectorate’s role in the light of the Planning Bill; and

i. have knowledge and understanding of diversity issues.

Time commitment

12. The Strategic Management Board meets 6 times a year; the Audit Committee meets 4 times a year. Meetings are normally held in Bristol although from time to time meetings are held in Cardiff and London. On that basis the time commitment is expected to be about 15 days per year. All meetings are held during normal business hours.

13. In addition there may be other ad hoc events – eg conferences, training etc – that the Non-Executives may be asked to take part in.

Diversity

14. The Planning Inspectorate is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity and to ensuring that all its systems are fair, open and objective and visible to those inside and outside the organisation. We endeavour to promote this approach in those with whom we come into contact. Also, we believe that we are responsible for ensuring that the highest principles of equal opportunities are put into effect. As an equal opportunities organisation we make no distinction between people on grounds of their race, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, sex, marital status, disability, part time status or sexual orientation. All staff are able to challenge discriminatory attitudes and practices.

15. The Inspectorate recognises the benefits of having a Strategic Management Board that reflects the community it serves and would therefore particularly like to invite applications from members of those under-represented groups who meet the skills and competencies of this role. All applicants with a disability who satisfy the experience criteria (set out in paragraph 11 above) will be invited to interview.

How to apply (By Application Form Only. CVs will not be accepted.

16. Please e-mail andrew.murray@pins.gsi.gov.uk or write to:-
Andrew Murray Chief Executive’s Support Unit
The Planning Inspectorate
2 The Square
Temple Quay
Bristol
BS1 6PN