Isle of Anglesey County Council

Job Description

Job Title: Definitive Map Officer

Post Number: HTP3-019

Directorate:

Service Unit: Highways, Waste and Property - Public Rights of Way and Development Control

Grade: 6

Overall Job Purpose: To review, maintain and publicise the Definitive Map and Statement (DM&S) for Isle of Anglesey County Council in accordance with the Council’s statutory duty and operational policies and plans.

Principal Accountabilities / Key Tasks:

1. Review the DM&S in accordance with the Council’s ‘Statement of Priorities’.

2. Prepare periodic Legal Event Orders (‘LEOs’) and ensure the accurate preparation and publication of the periodic consolidation of the Definitive Map and Statement of Isle of Anglesey’s public rights of way, to provide the Council with an up to date legal record of them and to ensure that the Council meets its statutory obligations.

3. Process applications for Public Path Orders and Definitive Map Modification Orders in order to resolve anomalies and problems on the Definitive Map; and create additional public rights of way, including undertaking any necessary research and negotiations.

4. Prepare and present DM&S research findings and written reports/ statements at local public inquiries and other public fora, including Isle of Anglesey Local Access Forum, and town and community councils. 5. Write reports to senior management and Executive and other high-level communications, e.g. responses to the Local Government Ombudsman, MP or AM.

6. Maintain statutory registers and provision of information to the public relating to the DM&S and other rights of way records and public path order processes, including through GIS and the Council’s website

7. Interpret legislation and case law relating to DM&S issues and obtain further specialist legal opinion as necessary

8. Liaise with Legal Services and rights of way team colleagues with regard to the making and advertising of orders.

9. Keep up-to-date with legislation, good practice, legal cases and other developments relating to public rights of way; and share this information with Council senior management, officers and Members as necessary

10. Respond to enquiries from the public and others concerning rights of way issues in general and the DM&S in particular

11. Undertake any such other duties of a similar level and responsibility as may be required from time to time.

2 Position in the Organisation:

Reports to: Senior Engineer (Public Rights of Way)

Responsible for:

Staff supervised: No

Financial Resources

Level: A,B or C? Indicative Value £

Physical Resources

Land and buildings - Value £ No./area Plant / Vehicles / Value £ Equipment – No Information Systems – Value £ No./volume:

Delegation

Demands within the job:

Physical demands Regularly working at research stations in archives or libraries for long periods. Required to walk distances of several miles along the PROW network. Some requirement to move moderate loads.

Mental demands Prolonged periods of concentrated mental attention in researching historical documents, production of reports and legal documents for use at Public Enquiry.

Emotional demands Possible emotional demands, arising from abusive/ aggressive landowners. Language Requirements:

Post is Welsh ESSENTIAL/DESIRABLE (also see Welsh Language Skills – post assessment) Welsh Language Skills (Please see the skills framework attached)

Listening and Speaking Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 (Tick One) X Reading Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 (Tick One) X Speaking Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 (Tick one) X Writing Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 (Tick One) X

English Language Skills (Please see the skills framework attached)

Listening and Speaking Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 (Tick One) X Reading Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 (Tick One) X Speaking Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 (Tick one) X Writing Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 (Tick One) X

Working Arrangements and Conditions:

Working week: Any 5 out of 7 Monday – Sunday

Contracted hours: 37

Spread:

Identified work base: Across the Island

Normal work location: Headquarters , Llangefni

 Normally office based

4 Office based but with some site / home / meeting visits Role involves substantial travelling with occasional visits to identified work base

Business Travel

No business travel Some business travel. Postholder may be called upon to provide own vehicle  Some business travel. Council vehicle may be provided to postholder Postholder employed as driver / required to operate specialist machinery

Exposure to disagreeable working conditions

Environmental

Minimal / normal office environment  Some Significant

Aggressive / difficult clients

Minimal  Some Significant

Other Conditions:

DBS check required Enhanced Standard  Not applicable

Work Flexibilities / Restrictions Politically Restricted Post:

Yes  No :

Home / Mobile Phone provided

 Yes No Protective Clothing provided:

 Yes No

Flexibility

Your attention is drawn to the fact that in some cases particular duties and responsibilities are difficult to define and may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties and level of responsibilities entailed. In addition, it is a requirement of all employees that they accept elements of flexibility in duties and responsibilities and when necessary interchange within the organisation which will meet the changing needs and demands of the service. Such a requirement will enable the particular expertise of the postholder to be developed and maximised to the mutual benefit of both employer and employee.

Date of preparation of this job description document: 22 August 2016

6 Isle of Anglesey County Council - Person Specification

1. Education and Training

The minimum educational requirements/professional or vocational qualifications for the post

1.1 Essential

1.1.1 Degree or professional qualification in an appropriate discipline

1.2 Desirable

Any specific training required for the post Incl. Certification

1.3 Essential

1.4 Desirable

1.4.1 Member of Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers

2. Key Competence Requirements

Job related knowledge Critical for effective performance

2.1 Essential 2.1.1 Experience in public rights of way (PROW) or related work, including experience of relevant legal procedures.

2.2 Desirable 2.2.1 Some experience of archive work/ documentary research and interpretation of same, and working knowledge of historical documents related to DM&S.

Specific skills critical for effective performance

2.3 Essential 2.3.1 Research skills in relation to historical documents 2.3.2 Ability to make sound logical inferences from written and map sources, including complex legal and historical documents, while maintaining impartial and objective judgement. 2.3.3 Good range of IT skills including all aspects of Microsoft Office and GIS 2.3.3 Excellent oral communication skills, including public speaking, with the ability to explain complex, legal based technical information in layman’s terms. 2.3.4 Excellent written communication skills, including preparation and presentation of complex reports.

2.4 Desirable 2.4.1

Managerial skills critical for effective performance

2.5 Essential 2.5.1 The ability to prioritise workloads to meet long term requirements relating to Definitive Map Orders 2.5.2 Ability to discuss access issues sensitively with land owners and others with an interest such as Community Councils.

2.6 Desirable 2.6.1

3. Personal Attributes

Personal values and characteristics which should be demonstrated in performing the duties of the post

3.1 Essential 3.1.1 Self-motivated and flexible with the ability to work under pressure and multi-task competing priorities using own initiative, and as an integral part of a team, to ensure deadlines are met.

3.2 Desirable 3.2.1 Methodical approach and close attention to detail particularly in relation to legal issues. 3.2.2 Able to conduct complex negotiations with confidence, tact and diplomacy.

4. Personal Circumstances

Job demands which, if not met, could constrain effective performance in post

4.1 Essential 4.1.1 Current driving licence.

4.2 Desirable 4.2.1

8 Language Skills – Workplace Assessment Levels

(i) Listening 0 No skills 1 Able to understand basic enquiries in Welsh /English 2 Able to understand a basic social conversation in Welsh / English 3 Able to follow routine conversations involving work between fluent Welsh / English speakers 4 Able to follow the majority of conversations involving work including group discussions 5 Able to understand all conversations involving work

(ii) Reading 0 No skills 1 Able to read basic words and phrases, e.g. signs or short and simple notes 2 Able to read basic material involving work (slowly) 3 Able to read routine material with a dictionary 4 Able to read the majority of material in own area 5 Able to understand all material involving work

(iii) Speaking 0 No skills 1 Able to conduct a general conversation [greetings, names, saying, placenames] 2 Able to answer simple enquiries involving work 3 Able to converse with someone else, with some hesitancy, regarding routine work issues 4 Able to speak the language in the majority of situations using some Welsh / English words 5 Fluent – able to conduct a conversation and answer questions, for an extended period of time where necessary

(iv) Writing 0 No skills 1 Able to write basic messages 2 Able to answer simple correspondence with assistance 3 Able to draft routine text, with editing assistance 4 Able to prepare the majority of written material related to the area, with some assistance in terms of revision 5 Skilled – able to compete written work without the need for revision