Information pack for Review Officer

This pack provides information for candidates regarding the appointment of a Review Officer for the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

Application is by CV and covering letter. Details on how to apply are included in this pack. Ensure you read them and complete the relevant forms before applying.

Please note that applications need to be received by email to recruitment@lgbce.org.ukno later than Midnight on Wednesday 23rd October 2019.

Interviews will take place week beginning 4th November 2019.

Contents

About the role........................................................................................................................ 2About Us................................................................................................................................3Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion.........................................................................................4Review Officer....................................................................................................................... 6

Job Description...................................................................................................................6Person specification...............................................................................................................9How to apply........................................................................................................................10Recruitment process............................................................................................................11Political activity.....................................................................................................................11Equal Opportunities.............................................................................................................12General Data Protection Regulation....................................................................................12Political activity form............................................................................................................13Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form..................................................................................14

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About the role

Review Officers deliver the Commission’s core function, to review and make recommendations for changes to local authority electoral arrangements, including the number of councillors to be elected to an authority, the pattern and names of wards and the number of councillors to be returned from each ward.

You will lead on your reviews and have autonomy for your work, whilst adhering to the agreed review process and technical guidance. An electoral review takes up to 18 months and you will see the whole process through from initial information gathering and order laying in parliament. You will work closely with the Lead Commissioner for the review, discussing boundary options, council size and keeping them up to date with review progress.

We are a small organisation, with about 21 staff. There are currently eight Review Officers each of whom are responsible for conducting three or four different reviews of local authorities at any one time. The role is varied over the course of a review and you will conduct a number of activities which we believe makes the role interesting and challenging. All of our Review Officers are excellent communicators – you have to be able to write reports that are published so that councils and members of the public can comment on your proposed electoral arrangements. Review Officers present to the Commission at formal monthly meetings. At these meetings you are expected to advise the Commission of the warding arrangements you think best reflect our statutory criteria.

Some of our Review Officers come to the Commission with a particular interest in GIS (Geographic Information Systems). All of our maps are created using the mapping programme ArcGis. Although we don’t expect everybody to already know how to use it, the ideal candidate will soon learn how to use this software so that you can create maps showing electoral boundaries with large amounts of other detail laid on top of it, including population and development data.

You will build strong relationships with other Review Officers sharing information, and best practice which leads to a strong collaborative working environment. You will also build positive relationships with officers from local authorities under review.

A key part of your role will be to analyse formal comments that you receive during the review. You’ll be responsible for reading submissions that are received (typically between 20 and 200) for your reviews and determining what electoral boundaries should be recommended to the Commission.

You’ll also work closely with our communications team who are responsible for our consultation exercises and help identify which stakeholders will be interested in the review. In every review you’ll get the opportunity to go visit the authority under review and to tour the area to see how the boundaries you have identified might work on the ground.

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About Us

We are an independent organisation supporting democracy by sustaining fair Local Government electoral arrangements in England as communities change. We have a role in law to provide fair boundary arrangements for local authority elections in England.

The Commission was set up by Parliament on 1 April 2010 by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. It is directly accountable to Parliament through a committee of MPs chaired by the Speaker of the House of Commons. There are currently six Commissioners and the Chair is Professor Colin Mellors.

The Commission works closely with the local government community in England, with central Government and with Parliamentarians in both Houses.

Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to equalities, diversity and inclusion. We aspire to have a truly diverse workforce, want all our staff to feel valued, respected and to see this as a great place to work. From our Commissioners, staff and EDI champions, everyone has a part to play to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in our organisation. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME), disabled, female and LGBTQ+ candidates who are under-represented across our workforce.

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LGBCE offers a range of benefits to employees which are set out below:Core Benefits

Basic SalaryBased on the Commission’s Salary Matrix with a 3.1% after one years service and annual cost of living rises.

Pension SchemeEnrolled in the Civil Service contributory pension scheme Alpha. The current employer contribution rate is 27.1%.

HolidaysAttractive annual holiday entitlement starting at 27.5 days plus statutory bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time workers). Holiday entitlement will rise to 30 days after five years service.

Enhanced statutory policiesEnhanced maternity, adoption and paternity leave, and sickness absence provisions.

Training & Development

Performance ManagementIndividual yearly appraisals, learning and development plans matched to your agreed career objectives and progression plans.

Learning & Development A range of training courses relevant to the role as per the Training Matrix. Other opportunities are available for personal/professional development. We will pay for a professional membership relevant to the job.

Work/life Balance

Flexible Working Flexible working patterns .

Special LeavePaid time off in line with agreed policy for family emergencies, dependents and compassionate leave.

Additional paid leave is available for employees taking part in public duties, trade union activities, special/trained forces and for health & safety representatives.

Health & Wellbeing

Occupational HealthAccess to health care benefits through Benenden Health, including GP consultations, diagnosis, treatment and follow ups. The cost of membership is fully covered by the Commission.

Eye Care Free eye tests for DSE users and support towards the cost of basic glasses if required for DSE work.

Flu VaccineAnnual free flu vaccination available for staff who wish to use it.

Finance

Season Ticket LoansAnnual interest free season ticket loans to enable you to travel to and from work.

Cycle to Work SchemeA salary sacrifice scheme paid over 12 months to enable you to hire a bicycle and cycling equipment.

Review Officer

Job Description

Job title: Review Officer

Salary: £32,766 rising to £33,782 following one years completed service

Contract: Permanent full time

Hours of work: 36 per week (7.2 hours per day)

Pension: We offer you the opportunity to join the Civil Service pension scheme, which include a valuable range of benefits. You will receive tax and national insurance relief on your contributions. The current employer contribution rate is 27.1%.

Leave: 27.5 days leave per annum (rising to a maximum of 30 days leave after 5 years’ service) plus public holidays

Starting entitlement: 27.5 days   After two years’ service: 28.5 days   After four years’ service: 29.5 days   After five years’ service: 30 days  

Work/life balance: We support flexible working hours and practices to help you strike a good balance between your work and your personal life.

Location: 1st Floor, Windsor House, 50 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0TL

Responsible to: Review and Programme Manager

Responsible for: N/A

Overall purpose of the post

To lead on designated boundary, electoral or structural reviews, developing and presenting recommendations to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and contributing to the development of new policies and procedures as they relate to the work of the Commission.

Main Responsibilities

To be responsible for the day to day management of designated reviews, analysing accurately submissions, seeking further evidence and/or clarification if necessary to ensure the delivery of high quality schemes, and making appropriate recommendations

To develop an understanding of relevant legislation affecting the Local Government Boundary Commission for England

To advise the Review Manager of any contentious issues arising in reviews, and to suggest appropriate solutions

To be responsible for producing accurate, high quality draft and final recommendation reports to timetable, conduct full audits before publication and to be responsible for identifying mapping needs (ordering, checking accuracy and signing off maps, liaising with Ordnance Survey during and after map production)

To undertake accurate numerical analysis of electoral data received in submissions

To be responsible for the preparation of the laying of Orders in the Houses of Parliament. To instruct relevant contracted legal representatives in the

preparation of draft Orders.

To ensure equality of opportunity is maintained and respected at all times in accordance with the appropriate policies and procedures

To present a professional image to stakeholders of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England

To represent the Local Government Boundary Commission for England at regular external meetings with local authorities throughout England, sometimes out of normal working hours.

To ensure that the policies and procedures of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England are adhered to as regards financial and other regulations, providing updates to the Review Manager and information to the Business team, as necessary.

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To contribute to development of new policies and procedures as they relate to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, identifying improvements and suggesting solutions where appropriate

To lead or participate in ad-hoc projects as designated by line management

General

To understand, and actively promote, the aims and objectives of the Corporate Plan

To work co-operatively with colleagues across the Commission

To comply with the statutory provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

To actively participate in opportunities to communicate within the organisation including attending team meetings

To make full use technology for all appropriate tasks

To demonstrate a willingness to work flexibly with others to respond to needs of an evolving organisation

To ensure that confidentiality is respected and maintained at all times

To participate fully in the Commission’s performance appraisal scheme and to take responsibility, with support from line management, for own development

To perform any other duty as directed by line management

This job description reflects the present requirements of the post and should not be seen as an exhaustive list of responsibilities. Duties and responsibilities may develop and change in consultation with line management.

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Person specification

Behaviour/skill Requirement Essential/Desirable

How tested

Be positive and take pride in your

work.

Experience of maintaining, filing, referencing, preparing, interpreting and verifying detailed numerical data

A strong commitment to deliver results within strict deadlines.

E

E

App

App

Be reliable and demonstrate a

professional image.

Working with a wide range of stakeholders and build positive relationships

E Int

Be an effective team member and

manager

The ability to work flexibly, both independently and as part of a team

Ability to establish professional working relationships with colleagues

E

E

Int

Int

Plan work effectively & deliver

high quality outcomes.

Ability to work to an agreed timetable E App

Relevant knowledge and

skills.

GCSE level or equivalent experience

Degree level or equivalent experience

Strong written communication skills in drafting letters, writing reports and adapting to relevant audiences

Knowledge of GIS systems

A broad knowledge of local government

E

D

E

D

E

App

App

App/Test

App/Int

Int

Promote continuous

organisational improvement

Good IT skills and experience of working with Microsoft (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)

E App

Use initiative to solve problems

Identify improvements and develop creative solutions

E Int

Promote a culture of responsibility

Using sensitive or confidential information

Take responsibility for accuracy and quality of work

D

E

App

Int

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How to apply

If you wish to apply for the post, please read and comply with the following requests:

1. Examine the job description and person specification for the role carefully in assessing the suitability of your candidature.

2. Application is by CV and covering letter. Submit your application in writing saying why you believe you are suitable for this post and provide the following:

A covering letter demonstrating how you meet the criteria in the person specification. Give real examples to demonstrate how you meet the various points of the person specification.

A copy of your CV, which should give details of any qualifications and your experience in relation to the person specification. Please provide daytime contact numbers and an e-mail address.

A completed Political Activity Declaration form. Please read the section on political activity carefully before submitting your application. Failure to declare in full any relevant political activity will be grounds for terminating any subsequent appointment. Please note that it is not possible to consider applications where no Political Activities Declaration form has been completed.

It would be helpful if you would also provide:

A completed Equal Opportunities statement. Responses on gender, age, ethnic origin and disability will help the Commission monitor the effectiveness of its recruitment and selection strategy through information from those applying for and obtaining appointments. Your answers will be treated confidentially and will not affect your application in any way.

Details of where you saw the post advertised as this enables the Commission to assess the effectiveness of the advertising media used.

Details of your current remuneration package.

All applications will be treated in strict confidence.

Applications should be emailed to: recruitment@lgbce.org.uk

The closing date for applications is Midnight on Wednesday 23rd October 2019.

Interviews will take place week beginning 4th November 2019.

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Recruitment process

Selection will be made on the basis of one successful interview and test.

Initial sifting is due to be completed shortly after the closing date and applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application thereafter.

The Commission will update its website (www.lgbce.org.uk/about-us/our-staff/recruitment) when the post has been filled.

Further information

The following website will provide additional information about the Local Government Boundary Commission for England www.lgbce.org.uk

Queries

Should you have any queries or wish to clarify any issue relating to any aspect of this opportunity, please contact:

Angela Hendry, HR Lead 0330 500 1264 or angela.hendry@lgbce.org.uk

Political activity

Under the terms of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 a person may not be appointed to the staff of the Commission if they:

a) are an officer or employee of a registered party or of an accounting unit of such a party

b) hold one of the following elective offices: member of the House of Commons member of the European Parliament elected in the United Kingdom member of the Scottish Parliament member of the National Assembly of Wales member of the Northern Ireland Assembly member of:

- any local authority in any part of the United Kingdom, including the Common Council of the City of London but excluding a parish or community council, or

- the Greater London Assembly Mayor of London or elected mayor within the meaning or Part II of the Local

Government Act 2000

c) has at any time within the last 10 years: been such an officer or employee as mentioned in paragraph (a) held such an elective office as is mentioned in paragraph (b)

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been named as a donor in the register of donations reported under Chapter III or IV of Part IV of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act.

Staff will be required to conduct themselves so as not to raise any questions as to the political impartiality of the Commission. In particular, active political involvement, whether at a national or local level, could be regarded as incompatible with the need for the Commission to be seen as completely impartial. However, membership of a political party is not a bar to appointment to staff of the Commission.

Equal Opportunities

The Commission is an equal opportunities employer. Applications from women, members of ethnic minorities and people with disabilities who have the appropriate skills and experience are particularly welcome. Before filling the advertised posts, the Commission is committed to interviewing disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy and consider them on their abilities.

General Data Protection Regulation

We take our obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation seriously. Any data about you will be held in secure conditions with access restricted to those who need it in connection with dealing with your application and the selection process. All applications are retained for 6 months and then destroyed in line with our retention schedule.

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Political activity form

Applicants must complete the questions below

This information is required to enable the selection panel to assess whether your involvement in political activity is or has been such as to make you ineligible to be appointed as a member of staff of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

Candidates should read carefully the notes on political activity contained in the information pack. It is important that candidates should provide full details of any political activity within the last 10 years. It will be for the selection panel to determine whether it is such as to raise doubts as to the eligibility or suitability of the candidate for appointment.

Please indicate which of the following activities you have undertaken during the past ten years, by ticking the appropriate box and by providing details of your involvement. If you have been or are an Independent or have sought or obtained office as a representative of a particular interest group, you should state this. Please tick all relevant categories.

Held office (for example Chair, Treasurer or Secretary) of a registered party or accounting unit of such a party

Been an employee of a registered party or accounting unit of such a party

Obtained office as a Local Councillor, MP, MEP etc.

Donated sums of £1000 or more to a political party

None of the above activities apply

Details of any political involvement within the last 10 years:

You may be asked about the activities listed above, if any.

Name: Signature: Date:

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Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form

This form enables us to monitor information about job applicants and our employees so that we can work towards meeting our equal opportunities policies.

Gender Information:Male: Female: Gender Neutral: Prefer not to say:

Date of birth: Prefer not to say

Ethnic Origin Information:Please choose one section from those shown below and tick the appropriate term to indicate your cultural background.WhiteBritishEnglishScottishWelshIrishAny other white background, please write inMixedWhite and Black CaribbeanWhite and Black AfricanWhite and AsianAny other Mixed background, please write inAsian or Asian BritishIndianPakistaniBangladeshiChineseAny other Asian background, please write inBlack or Black BritishCaribbeanAfricanAny other Black background, please write inOther ethnic groupAny other ethnic group, please write inPrefer not to say

Disability Information:Please fill in this section, whether or not you consider yourself to have a disability.

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Do you have a disability?YesNoPrefer not to say

Privacy Statement

When individuals apply to work at LGBCE, we will only use the information they supply to us to process their application and to monitor recruitment statistics.

We use a variety of recruitment methods and agencies. If you are applying for a job with us via a recruitment firm or other agency you should check that organisations privacy policy. Applications to work for LGBCE can always be made directly to us.

Personal information about unsuccessful candidates will be held for 6 months after the recruitment exercise has been completed, it will then be destroyed or deleted. We retain de-personalised statistical information about applicants to help inform our recruitment activities, but no individuals are identifiable from that data.

Once a person has taken up employment with LGBCE, we will compile a file relating to their employment. The information contained in this will be kept secure and will only be used for purposes directly relevant to that person’s employment. Once their employment with LGBCE has ended, we will retain the file for six years in accordance with the requirements of our retention schedule and then delete it.

You can find out more about how we collect and use personal information here (http://www.lgbce.org.uk/about-us/privacy).If you don’t want us to handle your information, please email us to let us know.

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