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A decision made (21.06.07) to approve the application for a one year 'J' category licence for a Senior Planner, Development Control.

Subject:	Senior Planner, Development Control Application to the Population Office for a time limited, one year "J" category Licence to be granted.
Decision Reference:	MD-PE-2007-0156	Exempt clause(s):		N/A
Type of Report (oral or written):	Written	Person Giving Report (if oral):		N/A
Telephone or e-mail Meeting?	N/A	Report File ref:		Request for "J" Category Licence approval
Written Report Title:	Request for "J" Category Licence approval	Written report – Author:		Jane Pollard
Decision(s): The Minister for Planning and Environment endorses the proposal to secure the necessary approvals to enable the appointment of a suitably qualified, experienced and skilled person from outside the Island under the auspices of the Housing (General Provisions)(Jersey) Regulations 1979, Regulation 1(1)(j) for the post of Senior Planner.
Reason(s) for decision: · A local recruitment campaign has failed to identify a suitably qualified and experienced locally qualified candidate for the post of Senior Planner, grade 12 which will be vacant for one year from August 2007. · In view of the need to continue to provide a professional planning service to the people of Jersey, and the high level of professional qualifications and competencies required to fulfil this posts, the Department wishes to appoint an applicant from the UK. · The role of Senior Planner is absolutely essential to the business of the Planning and Environment Department and the attainment of States’ Strategic objectives, and therefore fulfils the criteria of ‘essential’ as defined under the housing regulations.
Action Required: · The Chief Executive Officer to make an application to the Population Office for a "J" category Licence for a limited period of 12 months to be granted for the post of Senior Planner under the auspices of the Housing (General Provisions) (Jersey) Regulations 1970, Regulation 1(1)j; · Subject to the approval of the application to the Population Office, the Planning and Environment Department will appoint a suitably qualified and experienced candidate from outside of the Island to fill this post.
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision: 21.06.07

Senior Planner - application for one year 'J' category licence

Planning and Environment Department

Senior Planner - Development Control

1. Purpose of the Report

To seek support for the approval of a J category licence for the post of Senior Planner.

2. Background

2.1 The Department has had a vacancy for a Senior Planner for a period of 12 months due to the absence on a career break from a long serving member of the team.

2.3 The key qualifications are:

· a fully qualified planner with Diploma or MSc in a planning discipline;

· a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI);

· substantial post qualification experience in the public sector;

· a detailed knowledge of planning legislation and policy.

2.4 In recent years it has proved to be very difficult to recruit qualified and experienced public sector planners from amongst the local labour market in Jersey – qualified public sector planners tend already to be working for the States of Jersey rather than elsewhere in the economy. This has led the Department making a request for J category licences for the post of Principal Planner (grade 13) in mid 2005, and more recently for the post of grade 12 Historic Building Officer in early 2006, and for two Senior Planning Officers to handle third party appeal work in early 2007.

2.6 An advert was placed in the JEP in May 2007 for this one year vacancy, but there were no locally qualified candidates who had a planning qualification who fully met the person specification.

2.7 The planning department is already running a training scheme which allows graduates in appropriate specialities to undertake the RTPI qualification. This has resulted over the years in a number of high calibre staff being appointed and retained in positions within the Team. However, it is important to maintain a balance between qualified and unqualified staff, and there is a significant management workload in providing support and mentorship to trainees.

2.7 There are currently no trainees at an appropriate stage in their training to undertake this senior role.

2.8 The impact of not filling this vacant post is that the workload is spread amongst existing team members, who are already facing challenging and demanding workloads. The Shepley report points to a number of ways that the planning function can be improved in order to meet better the needs of the people of Jersey, and appointment to this post will enable a number of key recommendations in his report to be achieved.

3. Comments

3.1 Local advertisement has failed to attract candidates with the appropriate breadth of experience who are locally qualified.

3.2 It is therefore proposed that candidates are sought who have substantial public sector experience gained outside of Jersey.

3.3 It is expected that the successful candidate will need a Housing licence to occupy property in the Island.

4. Recommendation

4.1 The Minister is asked to support the recruitment of one Senior Planner in the UK and to agree to approach the Population Office seeking time limited ‘J’ category licence.

June 2007