An area with an exceptional environmentand quality of life for all; sustained by vitaland vibrant market towns and villages actingas thriving service centres meeting the needsof residents, businesses and visitors.

Director of Planningand Economic DevelopmentApplicant Information

The Ribble ValleyThe borough of Ribble Valley issituated in North East Lancashire and isthe largest district in the County ofLancashire in terms of area, coveringover 244 square miles, the majority ofwhich is designated an Area ofOutstanding Natural Beauty. It is atthe centre of the British Isles and isoften referred to as the Centre of theKingdom. It is characterised by itsrural quality with over 40 picturesquevillages, many of which have rankedhighly in best-kept village and hamletcompetitions. The borough has 3 main market towns,Clitheroe (the main administrativecentre of the borough) Longridge andWhalley. These centres are the hometo eye-catching boutiques, cafes,farm shops and family attractions.Ribble Valley also has a unique builtheritage with 21 Conservation Areas,over 1000 Listed Buildings, 29Scheduled Ancient Monuments and 4Registered Historic Parks and Gardens.The area has a mixed economy thatcontributes to a consistently low rate

of unemployment.There is a diversity of employers withinthe borough including those involvedin agriculture, tourism and hospitalityas well some major national and multi-national companies such as HansonCement, Johnson Matthey and BAESystems.The borough has a population ofaround 58,000 with a third of thepopulation aged over 65 at the lastcensus in 2011. The Ribble Valley has excellent links toother areas: the A59 is a main routeacross the borough from west coastthrough to east, linking directly to theM6 and serving access routes to theM65 motorway. Main line rail servicesare available from Preston which isonly 30 minutes from Clitheroe and toManchester which is just over an houraway. Manchester InternationalAirport is also just over an hour away.

2

Job Purpose

Act as principal advisor to the Council,its Committees, the Chief Executiveand Corporate Management Team(CMT) on Planning and EconomicDevelopment and Strategic Housingmatters.To lead and manage the Planning andEconomic Development Department,monitoring its performance andtranslating the Council’s strategies intooutputs in the community. This willinclude the setting of departmentalperformance objectives.To develop and support anenvironment that promotes economicgrowth and job creation throughoutthe Borough.To work collaboratively with externalpartners and stakeholders to developthe Borough’s economy across a rangeof activities including employment,tourism, town centre revitalisation, newbusiness opportunity and associatedinfrastructure, to support sustainablecommunities.To participate in the collectivecorporate management of theBorough Council through membershipof the CMT, attendance atCouncil/Committee and othermeetings as required.To be a champion of change,promoting innovation and creativitywithin an environment of riskmanagement.To have strategic managementresponsibility for the following services:• Development Management• Economic Development

• Forward Planning• HousingTo review and monitor the departmentswithin your remit to ensure the deliveryof high quality, professional andresponsive services that are efficientand effective.To advise Councillors during CouncilCommittees, Working Groups andsimilar meetings.To develop staff in the Planning andEconomic Development Department.To participate in the appointment,development appraisal, discipline anddismissal of staff within the Planningand Economic DevelopmentDepartment.To motivate and inspire staff in theachievement of providing high qualityand cost effective services.To be responsible for ensuring the dataquality of all information related to theduties of the post.To adhere to the Council’s policiesincluding equal opportunities andhealth and safety.Such other duties of a similarresponsibility level as may be allocatedto the post from time to time.It is inevitable that there will beoccasions when the Director ofPlanning and Economic Developmentwill be required to work in the eveningsand at weekends.

Main Duties

3

Amaz

ing Sp

aces

,Peo

ple an

d Plac

esAs a member of the Corporate Management Team (CMT) the role of thecorporate directors is to develop strategies and policies to promote theachievement of the council’s ambitions, aims and objectives, to work inpartnership with the chief executive and members to provide leadership, vision and strategic direction to the council.Each corporate director is also responsible for leading, supporting and monitoringthe activities of designated sections in order to ensure that the council’scorporate objectives are achieved.

Conditions of Service SummaryThe appointment you have applied foris subject to the National JointNegotiating Committee for ChiefOfficers of Local Authorities, asamended or supplemented by RibbleValley Borough Council.Equal OpportunitiesRibble Valley Borough Council, as anequal opportunity employer, intendsthat no job applicant or employeeshall receive less favourable treatmentbecause of his or her age, sex, race,religion and belief, pregnancy andmaternity, gender reassignment,sexual orientation, disability ormarriage and civil partnership; nor bedisadvantaged by any other conditionor requirement which cannot beshown to be justifiable.Medical FitnessAll appointments are subject to thesuccessful candidate satisfying RibbleValley Borough Council as to his or hermedical fitness to undertake the dutiesof the post. If an appointment isoffered, the candidate will be requiredto complete a medical declarationand may be required to undergo amedical assessment.ProbationNew employees of Ribble ValleyBorough Council are subject to aprobation period of 6 months.Employees will be informed within twomonths how their work is progressing.At the end of the probationary period,and subject to a satisfactory reportfrom their Head of Service, theemployee’s appointment will beconfirmed.SalarySalaries are paid by direct credit tothe employee’s Bank/BuildingSociety/National Giro Account on the15th of each month (unless this is aBank Holiday when pay day is broughtforward as appropriate). Incrementswithin a grade are normally awardedon 1 April each year.

Office HoursRibble Valley Borough Council’sstandard working week is 37 hours,spread over Monday to Friday, andbetween the daily hours of 8.00am to 6.00pm. A flexitime scheme is inoperation and appropriate details will be issued to all new employees on appointment. Entitlements are pro rata for part time appointments. SuperannuationYou will automatically be included inthe Local Government Servicesscheme of conditions, unless youdecide to opt out. Employeescontribute between 5.5% and 12.5% of gross earnings dependentupon salary. Ribble Valley BoroughCouncil also pays contributions tomeet the total cost.Holiday EntitlementEmployees with less than 5 years’service are entitled to 21 days annual leave, which will increase to 25 days after 5 years’ service. Theannual leave arrangements will apply (pro rata) to all part-timeemployees irrespective of the number of hours they work. Inaddition to annual leave:-Statutory Public Holidays are ChristmasDay, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day,Good Friday, Easter Monday, SpringBank, May Day and Late SummerBank. There are a total of four otherstatutory days holiday to be takenduring each holiday year.

Employees joining us from anotherlocal authority and/or some otherpublic sector organisations with 5years’ continuous service will beentitled to 25 days holiday from theirstart date at Ribble Valley BoroughCouncil.

Conditions of Service

4

Sick PayAll employees are entitled to sick payin accordance with nationalconditions. The scale of allowancesprovides for one month at full payand (after completing four monthsservice) two months half pay duringthe first year of Local Governmentservice. This rises to six months at fullpay and six months at half pay after 5 years’ service.Training and Development We are committed to the training and personal development of all our staff. We offer two types oftraining:

• On-the-job – specifically for skillsneeded to carry out your job.

• Off-the-job – seminars, workshops,training courses

These may be non–qualificationcourses or courses that lead to aprofessional qualification.Smoking PolicyRibble Valley Borough Council has ano smoking at work policy, thisincludes use of E-cigarettes.RelocationA relocation allowance is available inapproved cases.Family Friendly PoliciesRibble Valley Borough Council has anumber of family friendly policies, egflexitime, parental leave, childcarevouchers.Car AllowanceCar mileage allowance is available inapproved cases.CanvassingCanvassing of Councillors of RibbleValley Borough Council directly orindirectly for any appointment underRibble Valley Borough Council shalldisqualify the candidate concernedfor that appointment. This provision

does not prevent a Councillor of theCouncil from giving a writtentestimonial on a candidate’s ability,experience or character.

RIBBLE VALLEYBOROUGH COUNCIL

Balancingwork and life

BENEFITSExcellent

pension schemeTraining anddevelopmentJob security

We are an equalopportunity employer

and applications are welcomefrom all minority groups

5

Amaz

ing Sp

aces

,Peo

ple an

d Plac

es

1. ApplicationsCandidates are required to completethe Council’s standard onlineapplication which is available on ourwebsite or by calling 01200 425111 torequest an application pack. Additionalsheets can be used with regard todetails of your work experience. CVs willnot be accepted.2. ReferencesThe referees who are quoted on yourapplication form must be able to becontacted before any interview takesplace. They should be able tocomment from first hand experience onyour suitability for this position.References will be required for at leastthe last three years of youremployment.3. ShortlistingA panel of elected members supportedby the Chief Executive and Head of HRwill consider your application.4. Closing dateThe closing date for receipt ofapplications is midnight Friday 10November 2017.Online applications will automaticallybe submitted via an application link.Paper versions of the application formshould be returned to: HR Department,Ribble Valley Borough Council, ChurchWalk, CLITHEROE, Lancashire BB7 2RA.Applications should be marked Privateand Confidential.5. Validation ofQualificationsPlease note that, if you are shortlisted,you will be required to bring with you tothe interview your original certificates orother documentary evidence ofqualifications obtained that arerelevant to this post, as stated on theperson specification. We will also

require a copy of each of these to beplaced on file.6. Immigration, Asylum andNationalityPlease note that in accordance withthe provisions of the immigration,Asylum and nationality Act 2006, andbefore commencing employment, thesuccessful applicant will have toprovide either documentary evidenceof National Insurance Number or otherdocumentary evidence to show thatthey are entitled to work in the UK. Thisevidence will be retained on file duringemployment. In your own interestsplease make sure you can meet thisrequirement.7. Interview ExpensesExpenses incurred attending theinterview should be claimed on thestandard form, which will be forwardedto candidates as required. Travelexpenses should be claimed on thebasis of standard class rail fare. Anyapplicants who withdraw after beingshortlisted will not be entitled to anyrefund of expenses.8. Selection ProcessYour completed application form willbe considered by the Chief executiveand Head of HR who will prepare along list of candidates for considerationby the appointment panel. Candidatesshould note that this long list will bebased strictly on the criteria set out inthe job role and person specification.Applicants will be notified by letter inthe week commencing 13 November2017 whether they have been selectedfor interview.Shortlisted candidates will be invited toundertake online personality tests andgive permission for references to betaken prior to the interview which willtake place at the Council offices inClitheroe.

Appointment Procedure

Closing Date:Letters to shortlisted candidates:Online tests ‘live’:Interviews:

10 November 2017 at midnightw/c 13 November 201716 - 20 November 20174 and 5 December 2017

6

Management Structure

The Borough is divided into 24 wards represented by 40 councillors. The Conservative Group are the majority party.

Ken Hind CBELeader of the Council

Paul ElmsDeputy Leader

Marshal ScottChief Executive

John HeapDirector of

Community ServicesDirector of Planning

and EconomicDevelopment

Jane PearsonDirector of Resources

Environmental Health

Legal and Democratic Services

Regeneration and HousingEngineering Services

Cultural and Leisure Services Planning Services

Financial Services

Revenues and BenefitsHuman Resources

Council Structure

The council seats are as follows: Conservative - 35Labour - 1Liberal Democrats - 4

7

Heads of Service

Amaz

ing Sp

aces

,Peo

ple an

d Plac

es

@RibbleValleyCouncil @RibbleValleyBC