Rhondda Cynon Taf Council

Introduction

Set between Cardiff and the Brecon Beacons, Rhondda Cynon Taf has a wealth to offer the right people -stunning scenery, strong cultural heritage, massive development pressures and challenging areas of decline, all within a stone' throw of the booming capital Cardiff (15 minutes) and the magnificent heritage coastline.

Rhondda Cynon Taf is the second biggest Council in Wales. The county borough is home to the Royal Mint and the University of Glamorgan with more than 19,000 students.  We have the most southerly glacial landscape in Britain and its biodiversity is unrivalled in the south of the UK.

If it's quality of life youre after - it's here!

Employment opportunities

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has shown a huge commitment to planning, recently increasing the budget substantially, allowing a major restructure of Development Control.  We now have 11 new posts and performance, morale and reputation have improved dramatically.

The Development Plans team are at the cutting edge of the new Local Development Plan regime.  We will be the first Council in Wales to make the Spatial Strategy and Preferred Options available for public consultation.

The work is diverse, with major development pressures in the south of the borough, areas of strong cultural heritage and identity in the Valleys, and areas of rural planning.  The largest local authority road scheme in 2005-06 is currently under construction in the Rhondda, while mixed-use regeneration schemes, exciting health projects and town centre redevelopments are all planned.  Because of the distinct areas within this large borough, there are real challenges for planning in both policy and development control terms.  These present ideal opportunities to develop skills in a variety of contexts.

Training and development

Your development is the key to our success!

As a large council, we have the full range of planning opportunities.  We take staff development seriously and the Council supports job-related growth.  We are currently putting a number of planners through their postgraduate courses.  Some of these people have been promoted already.

Our 360-degree performance system is training and development driven.  The Council is committed to staff development whether via in-house development, including middle and senior management programmes and ICT courses, or externally provided training opportunities.  We also commission nationally- recognised planning trainers to provide bespoke training for us.

What our newest planning recruits say:

"The borough has an exciting future and there is a real sense of making a difference."
Urban Designer

"The friendliness of staff throughout the authority makes such a difference."
 Senior Manager

"The variety of work and surroundings are great."
Planning Officer