Purpose

There remains an ongoing challenge with recruitment in planning at a senior level. The challenge in the planning sector at senior levels is well evidenced nationally and unfortunately Cheltenham Borough Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council has not escaped this challenge. Gloucester City Council also currently has a Planning Policy Manager vacancy resulting from a secondment into a Strategic and Local Plan role.
Working with our SLP partners at Gloucester City Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council, we have considered different options to secure this support and, both in light of our recent experience to trying to recruit to permanent Planning Policy Manager roles, but also in light of uncertainty given ongoing conversations around Local Government Reorganisation.
To ensure we address capacity issues in dealing with planning policy work which is critical as to the Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury Strategic and Local Plan and managing the work of the core teams, having leads in place at Planning Policy Manager level is essential.
The proposal is to pool the annual base salaries for existing Planning Policy Manager roles at Cheltenham Borough Council, Gloucester City Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council, to provide two contractor managers to manage the work of the three Planning Policy Teams and support the Strategic and Local Plan. The pooled budget amounts to £207,000, and there will also be a requirement for a smaller contribution from the SLP budget, likely in the region of £77,000. These roles will be line managed by the SLP Manager.
This decision aligns with the council’s commitment to progress the Strategic and Local Plan forward, with an ambitious timetable to submit to Plan for examination in October/November 2026, addressing capacity challenges and corporate priorities for the core teams.

Decision

Agree to the pooling of the base budgets for the Planning Policy Manager roles of Cheltenham Borough Council, Gloucester City Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council in order to secure two contractor posts, to manage the work of the three Planning Policy Teams and support the Strategic and Local Plan.

Alternative options considered

Continue to try and recruit to the three Planning Policy Manager vacancies. However, this has been attempted several times and without success. This is likely to be compounded with uncertainties around Local Government Reorganisation. Notwithstanding this, the councils will advertise establishment posts on an ongoing basis.
Another option would be to use the budget to secure additional junior level support. However, there is a need for experience and leadership to support the SLP and corporate priorities of each of the councils.