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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.

Reasons for the decision

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.

Alternative options considered

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.