Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet has approved spending of £120,000 to improve the play area and open space at The Cema in Norton Canes.

The money has been allocated from section 106 funds collected from the housing development south of the Red Lion Lane in Norton Canes.

The improvements will include a new fully equipped play area, circular footpaths, a community sculpture, landscaping and green gym equipment. Consultation will be taking place with local schools and the community to help inform how the play area and open space will look.

Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet has approved spending of £48,322 on improvements to the open space adjoining Fortescue Lane, Bonney Drive and Eaton Drive in Rugeley.

Cannock Chase Council is aware of an odour within the vicinity of the Poplars Landfill Site and Anaerobic Digestion Facility located on Lichfield Road in Cannock. The site is owned and operated by Biffa Waste Services Ltd.

The Environment Agency has an Environment Permit in place with Biffa which allows the company to operate the site. It includes conditions relating to the monitoring and control of odour.

As the site is regulated by the Environment Agency, the Council has no powers to enforce these conditions.

Three candidates will be contesting the Cannock Chase Parliamentary Constituency General Election on Thursday 12 December 2019.

Figures released by Sport England last month as part of its annual Active Lives survey show that Cannock Chase residents were both less `inactive` and more `active` in May 2018 – May 2019 than the year before.

The survey captures sport and physical activity levels among adults aged 16 and over. The results for Cannock Chase are based on 524 respondents.

Following an Order made by Cannock Magistrates Court on 11 October, the Council is now seeking permanent homes for dogs that were rescued from a house in Cannock on 7 October.   

A veterinary team and police officers joined officers from Cannock Chase Council’s Environmental Health Service on the raid, which resulted in 60 dogs being taken into the Council’s possession as they were suffering, or likely to suffer, if their circumstances did not change. 

Cannock Chase Council and Stafford Borough Council have announced plans to make it easier for people on low wages or benefits to apply for help with their Council Tax. The councils are asking for opinions about their plans to bring in  a Banded Discount Scheme from April 2020.

A Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge has concluded in its final report that Cannock Chase Council “appears more confident than in 2016, with the cloud of an uncertain future resulting from the news of the closure of Rugeley Power Station now lifted”.

Cannock Chase Council is giving its full backing to the HS2 rail project following the Government`s announcement of the Oakervee Review, led by former HS2 Chairman Douglas Oakervee.

Councillor Tony Johnson, Economic Development and Planning Portfolio Leader, said:

“Although Cannock Chase District is not directly impacted by the route of HS2 which is due to come through our neighbouring districts of Lichfield and Stafford, the Council is acutely aware of the economic potential and benefits the high speed line will bring to the wider West Midlands region.

A public meeting will be held in Cannock on Monday to discuss current performance issues on the Chase Line which connects Rugeley, Hednesford and Cannock with Walsall and Birmingham.