Over 200 job hunters attended a jobs fair in Rugeley last month, hosted by Cannock Chase Council, Jobs 22 and Cannock Job Centre (DWP).

The event was held at Rugeley Community Centre, which is also used for community events organised by the Council.

Job seekers interacted with local businesses, to see what opportunities were available in the District.

Local businesses in Cannock Chase have made a generous donation of Easter goodies to the Rugeley Food Bank and Cannock Chase Children’s Centre to help struggling families this Easter.

Dodd Group Midland Limited, who are the contractors for electrical and adaptations works for the Housing service at Cannock Chase Council, have donated 50 Easter eggs to Rugeley Food Bank.

Cannock Chase Council has revoked the licence of The Jolly Collier public house in Chadsmoor, following a recent review.

The Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee decided to revoke the Premises Licence with immediate effect at a hearing on 28 March 2023.

The Committee also decided that the interim step of suspension of the licence should continue until such time as the 21 day right of appeal period has expired or, if an appeal is made, until the appeal is abandoned, or determined by the Courts. 

Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet have approved a four year improvement programme for parks and play areas across the District.

This programme, which runs from 2023-2026, has been drawn up from a number of schemes, which have been identified and prioritised following a play area assessment review, which was completed in 2022. 

The programme will be kept under review during the period, as depending on the Council’s priorities and funding projects may need to be added or removed.  

The parks and play areas identified in the four year programme are:

Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet have agreed to revoke two of the three air quality management area’s (AQMA) within the District.

The decision comes as the nitrogen dioxide measured in these areas is now below the nationally set target level.

The two AQMA’s being revoked are:

•    A5 Watling Street in Bridgtown (AQMA 1)

•    A5190 Cannock Road, Heath Hayes (Five Ways Island) (AQMA 3)

Teaching staff from across the District have attended an event to find out more about how arts and culture can contribute to their curriculum and support children and young people throughout their learning experiences. 

The Creative Education Tea Party was hosted last Friday by the Cannock Chase Cultural Education Partnership (CCCEP) which provides and encourages creative opportunities for children and young people.

The Council’s Environmental Health and Public Protection Service is consulting on a  revised Enforcement Policy 2023 which, once adopted, will be used when making enforcement decisions.  

This policy sets out the standards and guidance that will be applied by the Council when acting in its role as regulator in a number of areas, including: food safety; health and safety at work; licensing; environmental protection and environmental crime; housing standards and public health nuisances.

Signs advising of requirements on dog owners have now been installed in parks and open spaces across the District.

This follows Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet adoption of a new Dog Control Order, which   imposes the following requirements on dog owners:

If a dog fouls and the person who is in charge of the dog at that time fails to pick up the faeces, then the person is guilty of an offence.

There is a requirement when walking a dog, to carry dog poo bags and produce them when requested, by an authorised officer.

Rugeley’s popular Elmore Park is a step closer to seeing work start to install a replacement toilet block, with the Council set to undertake a tender process to provide the new facility and appoint a suitable contractor to undertake the works.

As residents will be aware, the current public toilets in the park are in a poor condition with no running water for washing hands, no baby changing facilities and are unsuitable for less mobile users. While a small retail kiosk, next to the block, is unoccupied and is currently boarded up after proving difficult to let.

The planning application to regenerate a large part of Cannock town centre has been submitted.

As it is an outline application, at this stage, some of the detail is yet to be confirmed and there may be changes, but it does capture the essence of what Cannock Chase Council is aiming to achieve following its successful application for Levelling Up Fund money from the Government in 2021, which resulted in £20m being awarded to the Council.