Youth Employment: Khawar
Hi, my name is Khawar, but most people call me Harvey. I am 25 years old and have been working for local authorities since I was 16 years old! I am currently the Planning Principal Technical Services Officer within the Planning and Development team at the Council. Along with my team, I am responsible for providing specialist technical support to the planning service to determine planning applications.
I started working for (what was previously) Buckinghamshire County Council in the library service at 16 years old, but I had been volunteering with the library since I was 15! I absolutely loved this job because I got to work with books every weekend and it was a fantastic way to learn the importance of public service.
As I had already been volunteering with my community library, I was encouraged to apply for the weekend role as it fit in well with my sixth form studies at the time. There was also plenty of opportunity for providing cover in other libraries across Buckinghamshire, and that was really interesting to me as I loved travelling around the county, meeting new people.
As well as having a full-time job, I am also a Degree Apprentice, currently studying for my master’s degree in Spatial Planning at University College London, funded through the Apprenticeship Levy. I had been deliberating over whether undertaking the apprenticeship was the right decision, but after five years of working for the council after leaving school, my manager persuaded me that it was the right time for me to ‘spread my wings’! I applied to University College London as I had originally applied to the university in the upper sixth and was admitted with an unconditional offer to read Spanish and Latin American Studies (which will always be my first love)!
I cannot express how much I enjoyed the course and how much fun I have had along the way. I studied part time over two years and undertook very exciting modules such as urban design, place and plan-making and the all-important dissertation. As well as this, I was Student Rep and Course Ambassador for the apprentice cohort, which allowed me to participate in extra-curricular activities at university, something which is unusual for a degree apprentice on a day release scheme. Perhaps the most fun part of the course were the field trips and walking tours — we went to Central London, Newcastle, Copenhagen, Hamburg and so much more during my two short years at UCL.
I am now waiting for my results, after which I will hopefully apply to the Royal Town Planning Institute to become a Chartered Town Planner. The best thing is that this is all funded by the council’s Apprenticeship Levy.
I have always wanted to train and develop my skillset at the council. In the library service, we undertook continuous customer service training as well as dementia awareness training as this was a customer facing role. When I started at Wycombe District Council in 2017, because I had previous client care experience, I was allowed to assist at planning committee, as well as undertake minute-taking duties at cabinet member meetings for the former Head of Planning and Sustainability. This allowed me to develop my skills in liaising with stakeholders and elected members of the council. As well as this, I am a First Aider.
As part of my role, I am the responsible appeals officer for the council. This is a very varied and seminal role in the operations of planning appeals within Buckinghamshire. Appeals can proceed through the planning process by one of three routes; written representations (in which the council as the Local Planning Authority writes a statement of case to the Planning Inspectorate, who are responsible for deciding), a hearing (which is a large meeting where the planning application is discussed) and a public inquiry (which is the largest and most important route). This is carried out over several days, with planning witnesses, cross-examination, and a ‘judge’ (the Planning Inspector) which is a bit like court!
In my time, we have had two public inquiries held — both for allocated sites in the Wycombe District Local Plan: Tralee Farm in 2022 and Gomm Valley in 2024. These inquiries were significant to the council as we had to defend our position to refuse planning permission for these developments, despite them being allocated (which means they had development briefs, outlining how development should be carried out on site). My role in this is organising all the logistical arrangements for the inquiry, including liaising with the Planning Inspectorate, the appellant, Counsel, planning officers, and senior managers about consultation, notification, questionnaires, statements of case, statements of common ground, proofs of evidence, venues for the Inquiry, Rule 6 parties (interested parties who wish to participate in the appeal) and so much more. This is a bit like a Programme Officer role, so it includes enhanced event management.
Owing to the way that the council has organised itself when it comes to appeals and the way that it has defended itself by appointing very consummate barristers and planning witnesses, we were successful in the Planning Inspectorate dismissing the appeals and upholding the council’s decision. This impacted my career progression as I had shown willingness and interest in appeals, now becoming the lead officer for public inquiries.
The council has always encouraged me to be the best version of myself and has never failed to support my career aspirations. My manager, as well as others in senior management have always listened to my suggestions and have taken them into account.
As well as supporting me through my degree apprenticeship at UCL, I aim to now do my master’s in Business Administration part-time, so that I can prepare for my future within local government. The council will continue to support me through this journey.
Buckinghamshire Council is a great place to start your career in public service. As a unitary authority, we have jobs ranging from children’s service to commissioning, procurement to planning and so much more. You learn from the very best in local government how great working in a council is!
I see Buckinghamshire Council as an organisation for life and one in which I want to progress. I want to become a senior manager/head of service within the coming years and make the council an even more attractive place to work.
The council is a flexible, fun, and fantastic place to work for young professionals. We are the ‘public servants of tomorrow’. The managers are supportive, the work is varied but manageable and the colleagues are amazing!
