Assistant Definitive Map Officer

What will you be doing?

• To assist in the preparation of periodic Legal Event Orders (‘LEOs’) and ensure the accurate preparation and publication (by legal order) of the periodic consolidation of the Definitive Map and Statement.  Any inaccuracies could result in costly legal claims being made against the Council.
• To assist with applications for Definitive Map Modification Orders (‘DMMOs’) and Public Path Orders (‘PPOs’) in detail so that the Council is protected from successful legal challenges to its decision making process.
• To assist with the preparation of reports with recommendations for the Assistant Director of Highways and Waste (the officer with the relevant delegated powers) and draft any subsequent legal Orders.  If the reports are not thorough and accurate this can lead to legal challenges and unnecessary costs for the Council and/or applicant.
• To assist the Definitive Map Officers with the preparation of the Council’s case for written representations, public hearings or public inquiries if there are objections to Orders (either DMMOs or PPOs) to try to ensure that the inquiry inspector confirms the council’s Order and that the Council is protected from excessive cost claims.
• To ensure accurate rights of way registers and records are created, kept and maintained to ensure that the Council meets it statutory obligations in this regard.  A significant amount of the records are kept on the Council’s website and GIS system.  The maintaining of these records ensures compliance with the Council’s best practice policies and procedures, thereby enhancing the Council’s service to the public.  The post holder conducts rights of way searches and provides signed legal extracts of the Definitive Map (which may be used as legal evidence).
• To work with local planning authorities by providing expert, professional advice to their legal teams in the making and confirming of PPOs under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in order to protect the legal integrity of the routes on the Definitive Map.
• To contribute to the content and policies within the local Rights of Way Improvement Plan and Local Transport Plan in order to set targets for the next five years.
• To examine, review, advise on and accept Landowner Deposits to ensure that they cannot be called into question at a later date, thereby protecting the landowner and the integrity of the Council.
• To ensure that reasonable care is taken at all times for the health, safety and welfare of yourself and others and to comply with priorities and procedures relating to health and safety.

About you

• Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Office and GIS systems (in order to create maps of a very high standard of accuracy)
• Excellent map reading skills with the ability to read and interpret historic maps and documents including early highways records such as Inclosure Acts and Awards
• Ability to supply specialist technical and legal advice to solicitors, land agents, local authorities and other third party organisations                                                               
• A good understanding of the legal and historical background to the Definitive Map with at least some knowledge of highway, environmental or land law.  In particular, a working knowledge of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Highways Act 1980 and earlier Highways Acts in so much as these are concerned with public rights of way.

• Exceptionally skilled at report writing and able to draft basic Orders or legally binding agreements such as a Deed of Dedication

• Ability to communicate effectively with general public, external contractors and internal customers.
• Competent IT skills including word processing, GIS, spreadsheets and electronic mail systems.

Our benefits

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.

You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!

Why choose us?

We offer a vibrant working environment with:

• a competitive salary
• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
• lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

About us

Our Values and Behaviours

Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are:

Customer-focused
Respectful
Efficient
Supportive
Trustworthy

Our Key Commitments

Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.

We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.

North Northamptonshire Council re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant in June 2024 which highlights the Council’s pledge to support the Armed Forces community. The council obtained the silver status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and we are now currently working towards achieving Gold status.

We aim to be a carbon neutral Council by 2030.

Further information can be found at Jobs and careers | North Northamptonshire Council (northnorthants.gov.uk)