Overview

Milton Keynes is a rapidly expanding, vibrant and dynamic place to live, work and play. How better to contribute to that continued success than through a unique and rewarding career with Milton Keynes Council. So if you’re looking for an excellent benefits package and the chance to make a difference, make a move to Milton Keynes Council

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an externally funded (initially for a 2 year period) Ecologist to work on a nationally important ground-breaking new project within the Landscape Services team at Milton Keynes Council. The Landscape Services team delivers an Ecology service, working both private and NGO sectors, to help deliver a step-change in the conservation of great crested newts to deliver ecosystem services, landscape management projects across Milton Keynes and advice on ecology for new developments.

Natural England have awarded a ‘District Licence’ for great crested newts to seven Planning Authorities including Milton Keynes Council that allows them to authorise (under strictly defined terms) activities that may harm newts at the same time as granting planning permission. The District Licence scheme has significant advantages for developers in simplifying and streamlining the processes they need to go through to meet their legal obligations to the great crested newt – a European Protected Species. Equally though, the scheme offers very significant conservation benefits to newts by funding and delivering a region-wide conservation strategy that creates high quality aquatic and terrestrial habitat at a landscape scale, plus long-term management and monitoring, in compensation for development impacts – and in doing so, improves the conservation status of great crested newts and much other wildlife across the region.

The District Licence scheme has been designed and administered by NatureSpace (a private sector company), is adopted by the Local Planning Authorities, is regulated and approved by Natural England, and is supported by the country’s leading amphibian NGOs – the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust and the Freshwater Habitats Trust. The habitat creation is being delivered by a new not-for-profit Community Benefit Society – the South Midlands Newt Conservation Partnership which works with landowners to create and manage new ponds and habitats.

The main requirements of the role are:

  1. Raise general awareness of the District licensing scheme
  • With developers and their consultants and ecologists – through LPA websites, literature etc.
  • Within the LPA – promote the scheme, and the newt conservation strategy, across all appropriate staff.
  1. Enable good planning decisions
  • Ensure LPA planning staff are familiar with the scheme and the process (dealing with NatureSpace certificates and reports)
  • Provide specific advice to LPA planners on any NatureSpace Partnership reports
  • Help ensure that licence requirements are translated appropriately into planning conditions
  • Help ensure that any developments which are not covered under the scheme revert to business as usual for great crested newt procedures (survey, impact assessment, mitigation proposals and subsequent licence application to NE)
  • Monitor developer compliance with any newt-related planning conditions under the scheme

 

  1. Provide a point of contact for newt-related matters for the LPA to liaise with NatureSpace Partnership, the South Midlands Newt Conservation Partnership and Natural England as required

 

  1. Ensure relevant Planning Authority staff and Members are informed of the outputs and outcomes of the scheme, as appropriate.

Milton Keynes Council Benefits

Use your skills to benefit the local community and experience a rewarding, interesting environment and attractive employment package such as:

• Local Government Pension Scheme, considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates
• A generous minimum holiday entitlement of 27 days per year in addition to statutory and public holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years
• Option to buy more annual leave
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Paternity entitlements
• Excellent in-house management development programmes endorsed by the Institute of Leadership and Management
• Flexibility – with full time, part time and term time working options
• Fair pay and a commitment to a minimum Living Wage
• MK Advantage benefits package – a range of savings including retail, travel and leisure discounts as well as a suite of salary sacrifice benefits.

At Milton Keynes Council we take great pride in our Community and we hope that you can help us grow and share our vision.