Position: Planning and Highways Lawyer
Location: Reading (Hybrid working)
Salary: £47,420 - £53,630
Company Overview:
Reading Borough Council is seeking an experienced and dedicated Planning and Highways Lawyer to join its Corporate Legal Team. Our Legal Services department serves the Council's needs across various functions, including providing legal advice and support to the Planning and Highways service. Additionally, Reading hosts the Joint Legal Team, a recognised centre of excellence for childcare, adults, and education law.
About the Role:
This role is ideal for a Lawyer with expertise in dealing with planning and highways matters. You will play a crucial role in providing legal advice and support on planning applications, appeals, enforcement, public rights of way, and related matters.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Provide general and specialist Planning/Highways legal advice to the in-house service, covering planning applications, appeals, enforcement, public rights of way, and more.
2. Prepare documentation including s106 planning agreements/undertakings, planning appeal statements, s38 and s278 highways agreements, licenses, easements for highways works, notices, traffic regulation orders, and stopping up applications.
3. Represent the Council at Planning Committees, providing legal guidance and support on planning matters and ensuring statutory requirements and procedures are followed.
4. Advise on law, policy, strategy, statutory requirements, and procedures relating to Planning/Highways issues, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and best practices.
5. Deliver timely and effective legal services to the Council and its partners.
About You:
1. Qualified solicitor, barrister, or CILEX, with experience in planning and highways law - Essential.
2. Ability to appropriately provide and communicate legal advice commensurate to experience to Members, Officers, and other stakeholders generally and at committee meetings - Essential.
3. Experience in Planning/Highways matters within the public sector - Preferable.
Their Offer:
Join a supportive environment where innovation and ambition are encouraged. The council believes in developing and growing its staff and provides opportunities to be exposed to other areas of law. In addition to a competitive salary, Reading Borough Council offers:
1. Holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave.
2. A wide range of flexible working opportunities.
3. A working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading.
4. Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
5. Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS).
6. Day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted.
7. Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/bus journey to and from work.
8. Car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing, and road tax.
This is an excellent opportunity to make your mark in an ambitious legal team with a local authority that has a rewarding vision.
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