At Swindon we want our town to be the best it can be. Our ambitious vision in the new Swindon Plan is supported by realistic transformation programmes, with the people of Swindon at their heart. Because that’s who we’re doing it for - the communities and businesses that make our town great.
 
Your next role
We now have an opportunity for a Principal Solicitor (Planning and Highways) to join our Legal team. We are looking for an experienced practitioner who will be the lead advisor on a wide variety of complex planning, highways and development control work (including enforcement of planning control).
 
Utilising your skills and experience gained within similar positions, you will report to the Head of Commercial and Litigation, advice and carry out work relating to the development and highways function of the Council, including attendance and advice at the Planning Committee. The successful candidate will require the following skills and experience and will be responsible for the following:

• You will be responsible for your own caseload, covering a wide range of diverse and interesting matters.
• Your caseload will include complex and novel areas of law and more widely assisting lawyers across the department in development control and highways matters.
• You will have extensive experience in development control and highways work and have experience within a Local Authority setting. Equally we will consider applications from those working in a similar position in private practice or at the Bar.
• You will support the Council in a broad range of development control matters including drafting and negotiating S106 agreements and Unilateral Undertakings, advising on the highways, planning and development control work including supporting development control and other officers.
• You will be required to assist in preparing for planning inquires, advising on Statement of Cases, Statement of Common Ground, initiating and defending JR challenges brought against or on behalf of the Council, instructing and preparing Briefs to Counsel, attending Committees/Council meetings, as well as providing legal advice and support to Council departments, committees, members and senior officers.
• You will also develop a good working knowledge of the Council’s Constitution, the local government legal framework, and the Council’s own decision making and other governance processes, and how they apply to your specialist area as well as the wider service, so that you can assist the Chief Legal Officer with the provision of advice on any matters of governance as may be required to ensure the Council acts within its powers.
• You will be assisted by the department’s legal assistants and business support team and will help to support and mentor less experienced colleagues, including the departments trainees.

This is a really interesting and diverse role, and you will have the opportunity to lead on a very wide range of matters reflecting the very wide remit of Council functions. You will be required to arrive at solutions through analytical ability and thorough research, and show tenacity and strong interpersonal skills necessary to build effective working relationships and establish credibility with clients and colleagues. You’ll also be capable of working with limited support and supervision.
 
This role is a Hybrid Role, attendance is required on a Wednesday plus one other day of the week.
 
If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you.
 
You must be fluent in the English language (as a requirement of Part 7 of the Immigration Act “for the effective performance of a customer-facing role”).
 
Your next package
As an employee, you will be part of a diverse and exciting environment in which to work, encouraging creativity and innovation whilst recognising the need to support ongoing personal development and a flexible work life balance. Our legal team is friendly and welcoming, and colleagues are supportive of each other in achieving common goals.
 
For Swindon to thrive in the future, we need to lay the foundations now. You’ll be joining us at an exciting time on our journey. We’ll look to you to share your knowledge, influence decisions and drive real, positive change.
 
Your next steps
As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from a diverse range of communities, and in particular disabled people and people from ethnic minorities.
 
Read the role profile and select the Apply button where you will be redirected to the Swindon Borough Council website to complete our online application process. Clicking the ‘Apply’ button on this job website is not an application, you must register on the Swindon Borough Council website in order to be considered for the role.
 
For further information about the role please contact Bhavna Patel, Head of Property and Litigation on bpatel@swindon.gov.uk
 
If you are experiencing technical issues submitting your application please email resourcing@swindon.gov.uk

Closing date: 22 November 2024

For further information or to apply, please click on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below.