Somerset County Council

Introduction and Mission Statement

Somerset, and Taunton in particular, are key arenas for regional planning due to their geographical location at the heart of the South West. Taunton is recognised as a strategically significant settlement and our work has demonstrated that it has the potential to develop an already firm economic base over the next 20 years and be a significant area for growth within the South West.

The County Council also has responsibility for assisting the South West Regional Assembly in the production of the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) and developing regional policy. In light of this there are a number of key issues and areas of work that the County will be facing over the coming years.

One of these is to determine appropriate scales of sustainable, economic and housing growth for the County's five districts and strategically significant settlements, whilst taking account of the Government's Sustainable Communities agenda. Furthermore, the delivery of the 'Taunton Vision' will include the regeneration of over 50ha of Brownfield land within the town and a sustainable urban extension.

We also have a variety of challenging transport issues to resolve, such as tackling congestion in our main urban areas and improving access to basic services such as health, employment and skills training for our rural communities.

Employment opportunities

The Council offers employment opportunities across a range of professional disciplines. Those within the transport and planning functions all contribute towards:

• Delivering the Taunton, Bridgwater and Yeovil Visions through partnership working;
• Working in partnership with Regional Assembly and District Councils to respond to major planning applications and Local Development Documents;
• Working closely with the NHS, the Learning & Skills Council and other partners to improve access to basic services through 'accessibility planning';
• Building on existing, and forging new, partnerships with stakeholders and the public;
• Working creatively with existing and incoming businesses;
• Providing overall strategic guidance and contributing to such important matters as: sustainable communities; affordable housing; climate change; economic development and waste and minerals policy; the SEA Directive; the Local Transport Plan; and stimulating public debate.

Training and career development

The Council will be working to modernise its practices and attract positive and constructive practitioners to foster a culture of working proactively. The Council also offers a variety of learning and development opportunities covering a wide range of skills and competencies, together with comprehensive management training. The Council also encourages employees to achieve nationally recognised qualifications relevant to their career and particular grade. A number of staff are currently studying for post-entry qualifications. The Council also has both Investors in People and Beacon Council status.

Employment policies

Somerset County Council is an Equal Opportunities Employer and has a comprehensive range of employment policies. Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and trade union is encouraged. In order to meet both employee needs and service requirements, the Council encourages flexible working and options. Furthermore, a generous leave entitlement scheme allows holiday based on length of service and grade.