Decision details

To award a contract to recruitment consultancy Carrington West for planning policy support for a Senior Planning Policy Officer for a period of 3 months.

The local planning authority is currently experiencing capacity issues in dealing with planning policy work and this post is essential to delivery of the council’s statutory function.  This capacity issue was recently highlighted in the LGA/PAS peer review of the planning service.

This post provides a replacement to a current contract worker who has terminated contract (see decision 24/03/2023) and provides continued interim cover until the wider planning resourcing of the team is agreed.

Not to award contract – the Authority is at an important time in working on the Joint Strategic Plan and not filling the vacancy would mean extremely limited support/no support would be given from Cheltenham to this Plan, whilst Tewkesbury and Gloucester have dedicated resource.  This is not an option, given the priorities and ambitions of the council.

The contract is being managed on an hourly rate and cost confirmed via weekly timesheets.  The contract will be managed by the Planning Policy Manager.  Should there be a need for extension of contract then this will be fully reviewed within the context of any ongoing capacity issues and the wider discussion around the recommendations of the Planning Peer review, budget and further decision made if required.

N/A as flows from previous decision to enable continuation of support in light of current pressures in the planning policy team.