Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer

Chesterfield Borough Council

Chesterfield / agile

  • Location Chesterfield / agile
  • Sector Local Government
  • Client Chesterfield Borough Council
  • Job Type Permanent
  • Salary/Remuneration up to £65,000
  • Reference GSe110731
  • Closing Date 7th May 2024 at 5pm

Welcome letter from Donna Reddish

Dear Candidate

Thank you for your interest in the Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer role at Chesterfield Borough Council.

We are seeking to recruit a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive to lead our Legal Service and act as Monitoring Officer. We would expect the successful candidate to add value to the provision of legal services to the council and work closely with officers across the council in delivering an ambitious and challenging council plan, core services and significant regeneration projects.

Chesterfield has a good reputation in local government as a council that punches above its weight in terms of the quality of services we deliver and particularly our track record in delivering inclusive economic growth through working in partnership with investors, developers and local enterprise partnerships.

We are a council and borough with big ambitions and nationally significant regeneration schemes. Our £1 billion programme includes our own Northern Gateway development. We are a partner in the £340m Chesterfield Waterside  scheme and are a key partner in Staveley Town Deal. 2024 will also see significant progress through our ambitious Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield programme.  

The spirit of collaboration and partnership working is part of the DNA of Chesterfield. There is a genuine commitment across public, private, community and voluntary sectors to work in partnership; focusing on delivering quality outcomes for our communities that no one organisation could achieve on their own. These are exciting times in this space as the new East Midlands County Combined Authority has chosen Chesterfield as its first home and we look forward to welcoming the new East Midlands Mayor following the May election.

The Council is also ambitious to deliver good quality services as well as new initiatives to ensure that Chesterfield continues to be a great place to live, work and visit; and to ensure that we can deliver the council vision of 'Putting our communities first' – we want to ensure our residents share in the benefits of Chesterfield’s success and enjoy healthy and active lives; and our businesses reach their full potential. That’s why our Council Plan and our collective effort are focused on:

  • Making Chesterfield a thriving borough
  • Improving the quality of life for local people
  • Building a resilient council

The council has responsibility for managing and maintaining just under 9000 council homes with a large capital programme, a range of in-house leisure and cultural services, award winning parks and open spaces, outdoor and indoor markets and an industrial and property portfolio worth over £130 million. We also have significant regulatory duties via planning, licensing, environmental health and private sector housing. We are seeking a leader that will guide the legal service, build working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders and have the ability to manage conflicting priorities within a diverse and demanding workload.

The role of the monitoring officer provides and an excellent opportunity for a legal professional to develop their leadership potential within a supportive and high-performing corporate leadership team.  You will be tasked with providing sound legal and governance advice to colleagues and elected members across the council, with exposure to exciting corporate and partnership projects. You will need to think strategically and be creative to help the council successfully deliver its goals while fulfilling its lawful obligations and ensuring the highest standards of governance and probity.  

If you share our passion and ambition, we look forward to hearing from you.

Donna Reddish

Service Director – Corporate

Chesterfield Borough Council 

 

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Description

Chesterfield is not your typical market town…

We are hoping there is something truly special about you too.

Chesterfield is a council that prides itself on ‘putting its communities first’, delivering inclusive growth and great facilities and services. We are the gateway town to the Peak District National Park and centrally located with excellent transport connectivity.

We are a council and borough with big ambitions and nationally significant regeneration schemes. Our £1 billion programme includes our own Northern Gateway development, and we are a partner in the £340m Chesterfield Waterside scheme.

The Council is also ambitious to deliver good quality services as well as new initiatives to ensure that Chesterfield continues to be a great place to live, work and visit; and to ensure that we can deliver the council vision of 'Putting our communities first' – we want to ensure our residents share in the benefits of Chesterfield’s success and enjoy healthy and active lives; and our businesses reach their full potential.

This opportunity has arisen due to the retirement of a long serving post holder and is key to delivering our aspirational goals in the council’s Council Plan. You will be the council’s statutory Monitoring Officer, forming part of a motivated corporate leadership team, working together to deliver the council’s objectives. You will provide robust, timely, and appropriate strategic advice and guidance to the Council, its committees, and officers on all matters of relevant law enabling us to make efficient and effective decisions. You will help shape the Council’s future and make your own.

To thrive in this role, you will have worked in a management role within legal services. You will have a strong strategic grasp and be able to operate effectively within a supportive political environment. You will also need to demonstrate a solid track record of driving quality service improvements and building productive partnerships. We welcome applications from candidates currently working at this level, or from those looking to step up.

Further information

Documents

  1. Cabinet Structure Chart 2023.pdf
  2. Council Plan 2023 - 2027 .pdf
  3. Council Plan Delivery Plan 2024_25 .pdf
  4. Structure chart April 2024.pdf

Contacts

Gary Evans: 07809 195 593
Delicia Coutinho: 07741 264 892

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