Published: Tuesday 17th November 2020 | 11.22am
Cannock Chase Council has set up a Covid Support Team which will work across the District to reduce the spread of Covid-19 and ensure everyone is aware of the current guidelines and restrictions.
Working closely with Staffordshire Police and Staffordshire County Council’s Public Health and Trading Standards teams, the support team will be responsible for coordinating the compliance response to Covid-19 across the District. This will include business advice and support, inspections, high visibility patrols in the town centres, identifying and tackling non compliant businesses and providing data updates to appropriate agencies.
The Team will offer advice and support to all businesses, industrial and commercial, to ensure employees and customers are safe and that businesses can, wherever possible continue to operate safely. Enforcement action can be taken against those individuals, businesses or organisations that choose not to comply with legal requirements.
The Council is funding the support team using Government funding which has been allocated to local councils for compliance and enforcement activity.
This additional funding will be used to increase public awareness of regulations via advertising and educational campaigns as well as enforcement of regulations and guidance. It will also cover any additional staffing costs including training.
Councillor Christine Martin, Portfolio Leader for Health and Wellbeing said: “The Council and its partners are committed to reducing the spread of Covid-19 and supporting residents and businesses during these unprecedented times.
“Everyone has a part to play in ensuring they are following the current guidelines and doing their bit to protect their loved ones and the wider community.
“We want to reassure everyone that we are here to support businesses and will do our best to help them continue working and trading safely”.
Councillor Alan Pearson, Portfolio Leader for Community Safety and Partnerships said: “The Covid Support Team will boost the local enforcement capacity across the District and highlight the importance of complying with current regulations and guidance.
“Our aim is to offer support and guidance, but Officers have the power to issue fixed penalty notices and ultimately to prosecute where businesses choose not to comply”.
Chief Inspector Becky Hyde, of Cannock Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “All of us need to focus, adjust and adapt to do the best we can in the circumstances including taking responsibility for ourselves and our businesses to ensure we follow the restrictions.
“As part of our commitment to help control the virus, officers will be working closely with community partners to ensure adherence to these new restrictions and using enforcement in order to achieve this.”
If you would like further information or to report a Covid breach call the Council’s Environmental Health Team on 01543 462621 or email environmentalhealth@cannockchasedc.gov.uk
Alternatively, you can report a breach online directly to Staffordshire Police via their website. Visit https://www.staffordshire.police.uk