Nicola White

I have invested significantly in learning and personal development. I am compassionate, considerate, and respectful. I am an effective, reliable and confident communicator, coordinating between organisations and groups as well as customers from experienced architects to first time applicants extending their homes.

I have worked as a Local Authority planning officer for 23 years, within development management. I have dealt with complex applications for major development and those of a controversial nature, being pro-active as a problem solver. I have carried out private planning consultancy for approximately 7 years.

I am a reliable team player. I have motivation and good judgment to effectively meet team needs. Proactive planner and problem solver.

Post-Graduate Certificate in Town Planning Studies (University of the West of England)

BA (Hons) Leisure Management (Swansea Institute of Higher Education)

9 GCSEs (Teignmouth Community College)

Asbestos Awareness
Negotiation

Conflict Resolution

Responding to aggression

SARROC Search and Rescue Radio Operators’ Certificate for VHF radio

RYA Advanced Powerboat

RYA Intermediate Powerboat.

RYA Powerboat Level 2

Sea Survival (Seasports SW RYA)

Elementary First Aid (Seasports SW RYA)

Basic Fire Fighting (Seafish)

Basic Health and Safety (Seafish)

Radar Course (RYA)

Safety Awareness Experienced Fishermen (Seafish)
Stability Awareness for Experienced Fishermen

Advanced Stability Awareness (Seafish)

AEC1 5 day Engine Watchkeeping (NEAT)

5 day Bridge Watchkeeping (Seafish)

ML5 medical

RNLI Introductory ILB course

• I maintain an active lifestyle with mainly water-based pursuits; free- diving, surfing, boating on various types of vessels, part of a local crew I have rowed for 20 years and coxed for five years. I have spent a lifetime mountain walking, camping, gardening, DIY and skiing. I take a practical approach to life and help others where I am able to. I am part of many voluntary bodies and also sit on a Harbour Liaison committee for Brixham.

My role as a planning officer at East Devon requires me to regularly prepare digital content and present planning reports to the Development Management Committee verbally. 

I administrated, prepared and led a Members’ tour to take elected members to developments to learn from decisions made at Teignbridge and also at Dartmoor.
I am skilled at presenting to Town and Parish Councils, public groups, press (as well as livestreaming committees) and am comfortable chairing meetings between different parties with often conflicting ideas and objectively explaining decisions to affected parties. 

I seek to establish mutually beneficial solutions, reconcile conflicting interests and reach
consensus using strong negotiation skills.

More recently I have put together risk assessments and Event Management Plan for the Teignmouth Airshow, Torbay RNLI Crew Fest  160 years celebrations, and last years Brixham Trawler Event, together with correspondence with the MCA and Members of Parliament.

My development management casework, and work with the fishing industry requires me to undertake thorough research and analysis and to balance complicated and sometimes conflicting considerations with policies and guidelines to solve problems and to make sound recommendations and decisions. I can analyse information, data and feedback in order to facilitate unbiased, informed, and timely, decision making.  This has been invaluable in my professional, social and volunteering roles.  

Port of Brixham Trawler Event (formerly Race) Committee - Event Co-ordinator.

RNLI Inshore Boat crew 8 Years and over 100 shouts.

Beach lifeguard training and volunteer working over 10 years.

Teignmouth Carnival - Emergency Services Day and Procession organisation

Teignmouth Airshow Water Safety Officer.

Lockdown roast dinners - ordering supplies, preparing, cooking and delivering hot meals in the Teignbridge area for up to 250 people, every Sunday, during each Lockdown and beyond, over 18 months.

Liaison between Government bodies, other marine stakeholders, Seafood Cornwall, Seafish, MMO, MCA and Harbour Authority, Fishing boat crew and Fishermen's CIC to enable understanding of, and response to, legislation and rule changes.

Proof-reading teaching and lecturing documents for government-delivered fishing safety courses.

Participating in lifejacket development seminar.

I have skills which draw upon my significant training in critical situations. Having been a member of the Teignmouth Lifeboat team as a volunteer boat crew for seven years, I have been in situations requiring quick thinking, a calm approach and good teamwork. 

Skills required include talking calmly to casualties, using radio qualifications to communicate clearly and effectively with main coastguard stations and helicopters as well as other lifeboats. My accurate chart work and navigation demonstrate concentration and analytical approach when taking into account tides, wind, vessel type to ensure the best approach to a rescue is carried out. 

Working on the trawler requires attention to safety and effective working as well as
assisting the skipper in managing the boat shoreside with crew recruitment, catch management and legislation updates.

As a planning officer I work well under minimum supervision and to meet strict deadlines. I am resourceful and proactive in finding solutions to challenges or obstacles and maintain excellent diplomacy in handling sensitive issues with discretion and tact.

I put the priorities of the team and crew ahead of my own and am a considerate co-worker with a warm and helpful approach and have developed good working relationships throughout my career. I take responsibility for and prioritise my workload and manage time efficiently and effectively by working in an organised manner whilst also helping colleagues and raising issues that impact on the efficiency and safety of others in the team. 

I have excellent communication skills and an inclusive approach. Significant negotiation skills with varied stakeholders (construction personnel, planning authorities, councillors, MPs, fishermen, Harbour Master, MCA, MMO, IFCA). Good written skills which are required as a planner when demonstrating, through written planning reports, how planning
judgements have been reached on developments, which are often scrutinised by members of the public or other planning professionals.  Presentation skills, in various formats is also important for helping the audience take in the information presented, from visual, to audio, and participation.

Communicating maritime industry information to skippers, shore managers and boat
crew in an appropriate medium to accurately relay information in a fashion sensitive to time and role requirements.

Experience of varying types of applications has led to me having comprehensive  understanding of the planning system; National Planning Policy Framework, other
supporting guidance and legislation as well as Local Plans. Most schemes involve a degree of assessment of legislation and policy, of which I have a good understanding from a grass roots and upwards perspective, as well as dealing with the policy makers and decision takers.  Analyses of the legislation is key to ensuring that the legal requirements are met by those involved in the system, and feedback is taken on board from those at grass roots to ensure the policies and legislation are applicable and working well.

Within the team at Teignbridge I assessed the planning application process and  streamlined it prior to implementation of an upgraded software system to deal with
planning applications and associated processes including geographical digital mapping
system. 

As part of the team at Dartmoor National Park, I investigated the potential of various
systems and assessing how they would link with/support existing systems as well as improve deliverability of the service the officers undertake. These changes brought about an improved customer experience and more effective working practices.