Cannock Chase Council’s Economic Development team has won a prestigious award from the Federation of Small Business (FSB) following its work on town centre business rates to attract retailers into empty retail units.

The team achieved the `Best in Class` category at the FSB Local Authority Small Business Friendly Awards 2018 held in Birmingham last Friday, when the FSB annually recognises councils for their support for small firms.

Following South Staffordshire College’s decision to re-open its Cannock Campus as the new Cannock Chase Skills and Innovation Hub, Cannock Chase Council and the College have signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

The memorandum sets out the principles behind establishing the new hub and how the partnership between the Council and the College will plan for its success over the coming years.

Cannock Chase Council is delighted to announce that they have completed the legal sale of development land, circa 29 acres, adjacent to the Mill Green Nature Park.

The land has been purchased by the joint venture between McArthurGlen, Aviva Investors (on behalf of Aviva Life and Pensions), The Richardson Family and U+I.

The War Memorial Preservation Society have organised a rededication of Hednesford War Memorial on 7 July.

This follows on from extensive works and refurbishment to Hednesford War Memorial after Cannock Chase Council was awarded £2.2M Heritage Lottery Grant in 2012 for improvements and the development of Hednesford Park, which included the war memorial which stands adjacent to the park.

The war memorial originally opened on 9 September 1922, four years after the First World War and was unveiled by H.R.H Princess Alice on 9 November 1922.

Cannock Chase Council is asking local people to get involved with future development decisions and have their say in a consultation on a new local plan.

The Local Plan covers at least a fifteen year period and determines what sort of development is needed for the future, for example; homes, businesses and shops, and how much development is needed and where it should go.  It also sets a clear policy for protecting and improving the local environment and delivering local infrastructure.

Cannock Chase Council is participating in the West Midlands Empty Homes Week to raise awareness of the issues empty homes can cause and to encourage empty home owners to bring their properties back into beneficial use.

Residential properties that stand empty in the Cannock Chase District could be providing homes for the many people who need one.

The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) is working with Cannock Chase District Council, Fusion Credit Union and Staffordshire Police to deliver a new campaign to raise awareness of loan sharks.

The ‘bite back’ campaign, running until June 29, involves a targeted leaflet drop, staff training, awareness work with tenants and an online survey.

Officers from the IMLT and Cannock Chase Local Policing Team took part in a targeted leaflet drop in Chadsmoor on Monday to show residents the work being done and point to the help if needed.

Cannock Chase Council is consulting residents on the adopted Urban Forestry Strategy for 2018-2023.

The management of trees and woodland is governed by legal responsibilities and influenced by national, regional and Council policy. The Urban Forestry Strategy was adopted in 2003 to ensure that the Council’s legal responsibilities in relation to trees and woodlands in Cannock Chase are fulfilled. 

From 1 April 2018 landlords who own or manage properties occupied by five or more people and form two or more households, now need to apply for a licence.

From 1 October landlords could risk prosecution or a civil penalty for failure to licence, if their properties are occupied by five people or more who are not related and share kitchens and / or bathrooms.