*Closes 02nd December*

Planning Committee Independent Members provide support to the Corporation’s decision making on planning applications in the area.
The Planning Committee Independent Members should have the competencies needed to operate effectively at Planning Committee. The Committee requires a mix of skills and experience in areas relating to decision making but this does not necessarily need to be in the field of Town Planning. Planning Committee Independent Members should understand the major strategic issues pertaining to the creation of the Garden City and the overarching objectives of the Corporation within a town planning context, balanced against the needs of local communities, businesses and other stakeholders.
In order to maximise the skills and experience of the committee we are seeking two roles. One with a planning or development background and one with a knowledge of the local area and the issues and opportunities it offers.
All members of the Planning Committee will be required to undertake specific training and shall be mindful of the guidance set out in the Planning Advisory Service publication ‘Probity in planning for councillors and officers’ and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government publication ‘Openness and transparency on personal interests’.

Organisation description

Ebbsfleet Development Corporation was established in 2015 to speed up the delivery of up to 15,000 homes and create a 21st-century Garden City in Ebbsfleet, North Kent. As planning authority for the Urban Regeneration Area, as well as landowner for a number of key sites across Ebbsfleet and surrounding communities, the Corporation has ambitions to:
  • Facilitate the delivery of up to 15,000 new homes of all types and tenures
  • Champion the creation of 50 new parks and open spaces, as well as a network of green corridors
  • Drive forward a new public transport network, with major road infrastructure improvements made to support the growing community
  • Provide a platform for thousands of new jobs and opportunities for the local workforce
  • Deliver Ebbsfleet Central, the major urban heart of Ebbsfleet Garden City

Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC) – 2x Planning Committee Independent Members

Number of vacancies2

Time commitment2 day(s) per month

Remuneration£500 per day

Length of term3 years

Person specification

Essential criteria

Essential criteria (all candidates):
  • A strong track record of making effective decisions within the private, public or voluntary sectors.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to effectively question fellow Planning Committee members, staff and stakeholders.
  • Strong analytical skills with an ability to get to understand complex issues; and
  • An ability to understand and interpret planning policy, guidance and law.
Planning/Development Role additional essential criteria:
  • Experience of working in the field of Town and Country Planning; or
  • Experience of development and development finance.
Community Role additional essential criteria:
  • Be a local resident with a strong understanding of the needs of the local area and the existing and new communities; or
  • Experience in carrying out community engagement work.

Desirable criteria

  • Experience in master planning or design.
  • An ability to interpret national strategy in a local context.

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to provide:

1. A covering letter that:

Confirms which of the two roles you are applying for (Planning/Development or Community); and

  • Sets out your suitability for this role; this must include how you meet/demonstrate the essential criteria for that role.
  • If you are applying for both roles, please confirm and please ensure your letter covers all of the essential criteria
  • We would suggest your covering letter is kept to a maximum of three sides

2. A copy of your CV

3. The following forms which MHCLG (the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) require us to collect:

  • Diversity Information Form
  • Declarations of Interests Form

Please also complete the Guaranteed Interview Scheme Form if you consider yourself to be disabled and would like to apply for a guaranteed interview under this Scheme. The deadline date for applications is 12 midday on Monday 2 December Your completed application should be returned by the deadline date and time by email to James Richardson at ebbsfleetrecruitment@ebbsfleetdc.org.uk

The Advisory Assessment Panel reserves the right to only consider applications that contain all of the elements listed above, and that arrive before the published deadline for applications.