FI16655

Request

1. What is the established staffing level of the planning department at full capacity (FTE)?
2. What is the headcount in each of the following seniority categories at full capacity?
   a. Head of Service / Director
   b. Team Leader / Principal Planner
   c. Senior Planner
   d. Planning Officer
   e. Graduate / Assistant Planner
   f. Technical / Administrative staff
3. What was the average staff headcount (FTE) of the planning department during the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025?
4. As at 31 March 2025, how many planning department staff were in each of the following seniority categories (headcount):
   a. Head of Service / Director
   b. Team Leader / Principal Planner
   c. Senior Planner
   d. Planning Officer
   e. Graduate / Assistant Planner
   f. Technical / Administrative staff
5. As at 31 March 2025, how many staff were:
   a. Directly employed
   b. Agency workers
6. During the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, what was the average length of engagement of agency workers (weeks)?
7. What was the total expenditure (£) on agency planning staff between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025?
8. What was the average planning department headcount (FTE) in the following financial years:
   a. 2017/18
   b. 2019/20
   c. 2021/22
9. Between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, how many planning department staff:
   a. Left the department
   b. Were recruited into the department
10. Of those recruited during this period, how many were appointed:
    a. To permanent roles
    b. To fixed-term contract roles
11. As at 31 March 2025, how many vacant planning department posts existed in each of the following seniority categories (headcount):
    a. Head of Service / Director
    b. Team Leader / Principal Planner
    c. Senior Planner
    d. Planning Officer
    e. Graduate / Assistant Planner
    f. Technical / Administrative staff

Response

1. 53 FTE as at 12/02/2026

2. As follows:

a. Head of Service / Director 2
b. Team Leader / Principal Planner 17 (includes managers)
c. Senior Planner 11
d. Planning Officer 8
e. Graduate / Assistant Planner 3
f. Technical / Administrative staff 16

3. 44 FTE.

4. As follows:

a. Head of Service / Director 2
b. Team Leader / Principal Planner 15 (includes managers)
c. Senior Planner 7
d. Planning Officer 6
e. Graduate / Assistant Planner 3
f. Technical / Administrative staff 16

5. As follows:

a. Directly employed 49
b. Agency workers Zero

6. Not applicable.

7. Zero.

8. As follows:

a. 2017/18 34
b. 2019/20 34
c. 2021/22 31

9. As follows:

a. Left the department 2
b. Were recruited into the department 3

10. As follows:

a. To permanent roles 3
b. To fixed-term contract roles 0

11. As follows:

a. Head of Service / Director 0
b. Team Leader / Principal Planner 4
c. Senior Planner 0
d. Planning Officer 1
e. Graduate / Assistant Planner 0
f. Technical / Administrative staff 4 

Some vacancies may be outstanding and not included in the salary budget to be backfilled.