Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet has approved the spending of £200,000 on a car park refurbishment and improvement scheme across the District.

Following inspections carried out in 2017/18, an estimated programme of planned works has been drawn up over the next five years (2018-23) and 10 years (2024-28) to bring the 35 council owned pay and display car parks to a satisfactory standard with regards to their operation, aesthetic condition, and health and safety requirements.

Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet has agreed to allocate £231,000 of Council funding towards the cost of producing a business case to upgrade Cannock Railway Station. The decision was taken at its meeting held yesterday (13 December).

The total cost of the outline business case is £400,000 and will be met from three sources; £129,000 from the joint investment fund (agreed with Staffordshire County Council), £40,000 from West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) and West Midlands Trains, with the balance of £231,000 coming from Cannock Chase Council.

Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet has agreed that the current policy on the Commercial Use of the Highway which affects the display of A boards, chairs and tables in Cannock, Rugeley and Hednesford town centres should be retained.

But after taking into account the views of the Promoting Prosperity Scrutiny Committee, who were asked to review the existing policy introduced in April 2018, it believes the policy should be modified to recognise some of the concerns expressed by businesses and the needs of the wider community.

Cannock Chase Council’s support for the McArthurGlen designer outlet in Cannock has been recognised as runner up at the prestigious Institute of Economic Development (IED) Annual Awards 2018.

The Council’s Economic Development Team was shortlisted for the IED’s awards for the McArthurGlen project. The awards ceremony took place at BMA House in London last week (6 December). The Council was named as runner up behind Maidstone Borough Council.

Following an Independent Examination and public referendum Cannock Chase Council has adopted the Hednesford Neighbourhood Plan.

This is part of the development plan for the District and will be used to determine planning applications in the Hednesford Neighbourhood Area (same as the Hednesford Parish area). 

A Neighbourhood Plan can only be adopted following several stages of public consultation, independent examination and a majority ‘yes’ vote in a referendum of the local electorate (for the relevant Neighbourhood Area). 

Residents are being warned not to turn to predatory loan sharks to solve Christmas money worries. 

The Stop Loan Sharks project has launched a national campaign to raise awareness of the risks posed by illegal money lenders and provide guidance on where help can be found.  

Loan sharks do not operate under official financial regulations and can cause extreme misery to those who choose to use them.  

The limited company which operates Lea Hall Social Club in Rugeley has been prosecuted after pleading guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, having allowed one of its members to use an unsafe ladder.

At Cannock Magistrates Court today, District Judge Strongman fined Lea Hall Social Club Limited £20,000 and ordered the company to pay costs of £17,000.

On 21 November Universal Credit full service started in Cannock.  Cannock Chase Council is raising awareness of the changes affecting residents with the launch of the ‘Managing your Money’ campaign.

Universal Credit is a new benefit system which replaces Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance, Income Related Employment Support Allowance, Tax Credits and Housing Benefit. 

Following the successful initiative in May this year, Cannock Chase Community Partnership is giving away purse charms to residents in the District this winter.

Purse charms can alert you if someone is trying to steal your purse or wallet. This type of crime is called purse dipping and is most common in busy town centres, shops or public spaces.

These charms are a simple but effective personal security item and are suitable for people of all ages. They have previously helped to cut crime in other parts of the country like Leicester, Sheffield and Manchester.

The Community Safety Team based at Cannock Chase Council and partners have successfully tackled a drug and anti-social behaviour issue that was causing distress to the community.

Following a site visit to the wooded area, at the juncture of Hallcourt Lane and Hunter Road in Cannock, it was apparent that the land was being used for drug use.

Further visits saw that approximately 10-15 people were visiting the site, some of these from as far afield as Burton upon Trent and many were of no-fixed abode.