Take care and be aware this halloween! Please think about how your actions affect others - and Be Safe Yourself.

DO:

• Only visit houses where you or your friends know who lives there
• Only visit areas where there are street lights and take a torch just in case
• Stay in a group - don't spit into smaller groups unless and adult goes with you
• Always take care when crossing the road and make sure you can be seen

DON'T:

Bring your unused or unwanted electrical appliances to one of Staffordshire's Household Waste Recycling Centres, and we'll find them a new home.

For more information please visit www.adoptanappliance.co.uk

There is a lot of news coverage today about a cyber crime attack on ‘Talk Talk’ the phone and broadband provider. If you are a customer of ‘Talk Talk’ or not we urge you to review your cyber security.

Not just your ‘Talk Talk’ one – chances are you use the same one on other services so change them.

Existing companies or those looking to start a new business across the District are urged to take advantage of a new one-stop-shop for support for businesses.

The Growth Hub which launched on 7^th October, is run by the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP), it comprises a web portal, phoneline and one-to-one specialist advice. It is the new home for all business advice, funding and support in the area – providing a route for businesses to local organisations offering business support or funding.

Cannock Chase Council has become the top performing District Council in Staffordshire and the West Midlands after scooping a fifth Green Flag award.

The latest award was for Stile Cop Cemetery which has recently undergone improvements and extension works.  As well as retaining Green Flags at Cannock Park, Ravenhill Park, Castle Ring (plus Green Heritage Award) and Elmore Park.

Cannock Chase Council has volunteered to participate in the vulnerable persons scheme (VPR) and has offered to accept Syrian refugee families, as part of an overall offer confirmed with the West Midlands Migration Partnership.

The Council believes that support to refugee families, rather than single individuals, will enable the best outcome with key partners working together to support the housing/educational/social/language and all other needs of the vulnerable persons within this relocation scheme.

Six historic town centre buildings in Rugeley have been improved to support ongoing regeneration and attract new investment as part of a joint programme.

High quality external repairs have been carried out as part of the Rugeley Town Centre Partnership Scheme, meaning they can be brought back into full commercial use. The three-year scheme has been jointly funded by Historic England, which led the project, Staffordshire County Council and Cannock Chase Council. Grants were made available to the owners of the buildings with a total allocation of around £320,000 to the project.

People with substance misuse issues in Cannock can now access better support to help them turn their lives around with the opening of a new recovery house and tea rooms.

Secretary of State Iain Duncan Smith joined representatives from Burton Addiction Centre, and partners Cannock Chase District Council and Staffordshire County Council to officially open the centre.

The refurbished house at High Green in Cannock is for people who have already completed rehabilitation and are alcohol and drug free and would like to return to live in their home area.

A consecration ceremony has been held at the recently extended Stile Cop Cemetery where it was consecrated by the Bishop of Wolverhampton.

The consecration service was held on the afternoon of 24^th September led by Rt. Revd. Clive Gregory, Bishop of Wolverhampton. The service was attended by the Council’s Chairman Maureen Freeman, Council Leader George Adamson, elected members and Council officials.

National Hate Crime Awareness week occurs annually and this year is from 10^th to the 17^th of October.  It is supported by some of the largest hate crime and support charities in the Country and this year it has come to Cannock.  CACH (Chase Against Crimes of Hate) is a local organisation that supports people who experience hate crime and discrimination and with the support for CCDC has been able to produce some fantastic publicity material for their service to try and combat hate crime.