Simon Ellis
Bedford,United Kingdom
Summary
Accomplished professional with extensive expertise in leadership and management, known for building consensus and fostering collaborative decision-making. Demonstrates exceptional team-building skills, creating supportive and open environments that transition from reliance on agency staff to resilient permanent teams. Possesses vast technical knowledge in planning, particularly in development and enforcement practice, complemented by excellent problem-solving abilities that address complex issues from all relevant angles. Proven track record in budget management and forecasting, adept at managing spend within tight constraints. Experienced in overseeing systems changes within a unitary authority setting, transitioning from legacy systems to innovative working methods. Skilled project manager utilising trackers to effectively manage large-scale projects within team environments.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
11
11
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Head of Development Management and Tech Support
West Northants Council
Towcester, Northamptonshire
02.2024 - Current
Lead a team of 40 planning professional development management officers within a large unitary authority.
Manage a technical support service with 20 staff members from April 2025.
Report to an Assistant Director of Planning and Building Control and work closely in a leadership team with three other Heads of Service and service manager.
Facilitated service enhancements, launching an improved planning service from April 2025.
Planning manager
East Cambridgeshire District Council
Ely, Cambridgeshire
10.2022 - 02.2024
Service Lead for a busy development management, enforcement and monitoring, technical support and specialist service team in a small District Council Planning department.
Reported to a Service Director of Regulatory Services.
Introduced a new Major Projects Steering group to address the backlog in major applications in a collaborative team approach to decision making.
Oversaw the adopting of the Council's first Local Enforcement Plan in March 2023.
Development and Conservation Manager
North Hertfordshire District Council
Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire
04.2016 - 10.2022
Service Manager for a busy development management, enforcement and monitoring and technical support service in a medium size District Council.
Oversaw all S106 collection and spend, reporting to area committees.
Established an effective development monitoring system.
Restructured the service from 5 to 2 area teams and integrated enforcement and S106 monitoring into one cohesive team.
Acting Development and Conservation Manger
North Hertfordshire
Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire
04.2014 - 04.2016
Job Shared during partial retirement of Service Manager whilst continuing the role of Principal Planning Officer and Strategic Sites case officer
Principal Planning Officer
North Hertfordshire District Council
Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire
04.2006 - 03.2014
Development Management Team Leader and Strategic sites case officer.
Worked on Major Urban Extensions and Town Centre Revitalisation schemes.
Also worked on client side for Hitchin Town Centre Revitalisation Project.
Area Planning Officer
North Hertfordshire District Council
Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire
08.2005 - 03.2006
Team Leader for Small Area Development Management Team
Senior Planning Officer
Bedford Borough Council
Bedford, Bedfordshire
07.2001 - 08.2005
Development Management Officer for half the Borough Council in a busy area team. Complex and varied caseload including first experience of giving evidence as an expert witness at a Public Inquiry.
Planning Officer
East Hertfordshire District Council
Hertford, Hertfordshire
09.2000 - 08.2001
Development Management and enforcement case officer
Planning Assistant
South Buckinghamshire District Council
Slough, Berkshire
05.1998 - 09.2000
Development Management case officer in one of two area teams in a small District Council Planning Department
Planning Trainee
Chelmsford Borough Council
Chelmsford, Essex
08.1996 - 08.1997
Sandwich Year placement during Diploma course. Mainly development management, some economic development and policy work.
Education
ILM Level 5 Certificate in Management - Management and Leadership
North Hertfordshire College
Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire 09.2010 - 06.2011
ILM Level 3 - Certificate First Line Management - Line Management
Bedford College
Bedford 09.2004 - 03.2005
Post Graduate Diploma - Town Planning
University of Wales, Cardiff
Cardiff 09.1996 - 06.1998
Bachelor of Science - City and Regional Planning
University of Wales, Cardiff
Cardiff 09.1993 - 07.1996
A-Levels - Geography, Government and Politics, Sociology
Exeter 6th Form College
Exeter, Devon 09.1991 - 07.1993
GCSEs - Secondary School Education
St Peters C of E High School
Exeter, Devon 09.1987 - 07.1991
Skills
Leadership and Management - consensus builder, collaborative decision making, accountable and honest;
Team Builder - build a supportive and open team environment;
Technical Knowledge - vast experience across all areas of planning particularly development and enforcement practice;
Excellent problem solving skills, based on an ability to see complex problems from all angles relevant to the outcome;
Budget management and forecasting - years of experience of forecasting fee income and managing spend in tight budget restraint;
Have built strong and resilient teams, moved away from reliance on agency staff and moved to permanent staff;
Systems - Managed and overseen systems changes in a unitary authority environment, moving from legacy Council to new ways of working;
Project Management - use trackers to manage large and complex projects in a team working environment
Affiliations
- I am a busy family man and for the last 3 years I have managed a successful girls football team
Certification
Driving licence and access to a vehicle
Chartered Town Planner, full RTPI Membership since 2000
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Head of Development Management and Tech Support
West Northants Council
02.2024 - Current
Planning manager
East Cambridgeshire District Council
10.2022 - 02.2024
Development and Conservation Manager
North Hertfordshire District Council
04.2016 - 10.2022
Acting Development and Conservation Manger
North Hertfordshire
04.2014 - 04.2016
ILM Level 5 Certificate in Management - Management and Leadership
North Hertfordshire College
09.2010 - 06.2011
Principal Planning Officer
North Hertfordshire District Council
04.2006 - 03.2014
Area Planning Officer
North Hertfordshire District Council
08.2005 - 03.2006
ILM Level 3 - Certificate First Line Management - Line Management
Bedford College
09.2004 - 03.2005
Senior Planning Officer
Bedford Borough Council
07.2001 - 08.2005
Planning Officer
East Hertfordshire District Council
09.2000 - 08.2001
Planning Assistant
South Buckinghamshire District Council
05.1998 - 09.2000
Post Graduate Diploma - Town Planning
University of Wales, Cardiff
09.1996 - 06.1998
Planning Trainee
Chelmsford Borough Council
08.1996 - 08.1997
Bachelor of Science - City and Regional Planning
University of Wales, Cardiff
09.1993 - 07.1996
A-Levels - Geography, Government and Politics, Sociology
Exeter 6th Form College
09.1991 - 07.1993
GCSEs - Secondary School Education
St Peters C of E High School
09.1987 - 07.1991