Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet has today (28 January) put forward its recommendations for the Council’s general fund budget covering the next three financial years to 2023-24.

In today’s Cabinet report the focus was on the impact of the pandemic on the Council and its residents and the need to maintain services for residents.

The impact of Covid-19 on the Council during the next financial year, for 2021-22, is estimated to be £1.4million.  

Cannock Chase Council has announced phase 2 of its social housing investment programme with a further £12 million of resources being allocated to this new phase.

The next Census takes place on Sunday 21 March and to ensure its success in Cannock Chase District, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has appointed a Census Engagement Manager to support residents in the area.

Kirat Raj Singh, the area’s Census Engagement Manager, will help organisations, charities, faith groups and community leaders within the District raise awareness of the census and the value to residents in taking part. In his role he will be covering Cannock Chase, South Staffordshire and Tamworth districts with support from each of the councils.

The leaders of all Staffordshire councils have joined forces to appeal for all workers who can’t work from home to book a regular Covid test – as part of the rollout of mass testing of people without symptoms.

With new Community Testing Centres open across the county, council leaders are calling for workers in all places allowed to stay open, to make testing part of their regular routine in efforts to identify more people who may unknowingly be carrying the virus.

Cannock’s rail station and car park are getting a makeover. The new short-term improvements are being made in time for the opening of the new McArthurGlen Designer Outlet at nearby Mill Green, which is due to open for business in the next few months.

Over 80 murals are being installed on the rear of the railway station platforms and the access walkways leading to and from the station’s two platforms. The images, provided by local photographers Anthony Dunn and Michelle Williams  are of local scenes, landmarks and points of interest from around the District.

Eligible businesses who continue to be affected by Government restrictions around Covid-19 are being invited to apply for an Additional Restrictions Grant from Cannock Chase Council.

Grants of up to £1,500 per fortnight can be claimed from a pot of nearly £2m, which is available to support businesses following the end of the national lockdown on 2 December. It is aimed at businesses that, while not required to close, are finding trading very difficult due to the effects of the pandemic. This will include businesses who do not currently pay business rates. 

Cannock Chase Council has been successful in securing a grant from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation to construct a new full sized third generation artificial grass football pitch at Rugeley Leisure Centre.

The award from the Football Foundation of £460,016 will be added to funds provided by Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles of £155,000 and £194,999 from Cannock Chase Council’s own Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) to provide a total investment of £810,015, benefitting local footballers with a state of the art new pitch.

The owner of a gym in Rugeley has been prosecuted for illegally remaining open during the first Covid-19 lockdown, despite having been previously warned to close.

On 28 April Environmental Health Officers from Cannock Chase Council visited Garth’s Gym Future Bodies on Power Station Road in the town. The staff had locked themselves inside and initially refused to allow the officers in. Once they gained entry, they found people at the back of the building in exercise clothing.

Cannock Chase Council has now received funding from the Government to help businesses in the District whose trading has been affected during the current national lockdown. Grants are now available to be claimed from the Council.

The funding is aimed at businesses forced to close or those seriously affected by the lockdown measures that began on 5 November and which are due to continue until 2 December. The grants will help compensate for income lost during this four-week period.

Cannock Chase Council has given its views on the Planning for the Future White Paper which the Government consulted on between early August and late October.

The White Paper advocates reforms to the planning system by `streamlining and modernising the process through a new focus on design and sustainability, by improving the system of developer contributions and by providing more land for development`.

In total, the Government has made 24 proposals across three policy pillars and it is these proposals that the Council has responded to with its views.