Councillor Steve Thornley is the new leader of Cannock Chase Council.  He was voted into the role at a meeting of the council last night (Wednesday).

Councillor Thornley was elected to represent the Cannock Park and Old Fallow Ward in 2024 and has served as Chairman of the Council for 16 months.

He succeeds Councillor Tony Johnson who announced earlier this month that he was to stand down as leader for health reasons. He received a standing ovation from fellow members following a tribute to his work as leader.

Cannock Chase Council is delighted to announce that Crystal Academy Aerial Arts & Dance will be offering a number of free dance spaces for children aged 3–14 years.

The initiative has been made possible through funding allocated from the Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s Community Safety Fund.

Families and young people are invited to explore the beauty of Cannock Chase and become Guardians themselves, with the launch of a brand-new interactive Story Walk Challenge taking place across Cannock Park, Hednesford Park, Elmore Park and Ravenhill Park.

The challenge forms part of the wider Cannock Chase Can initiative, which supports residents to improve their health and wellbeing through fun, community-based activities.

Cannock Chase Council has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting local residents through the ongoing cost-of-living crisis by extending its partnership with the energy advice charity, Beat the Cold, until 31 March 2026.

With rising energy costs continuing to place significant pressure on households across the District, the Council recognises the importance of providing accessible, trusted support. Beat the Cold brings more than 20 years of experience in delivering practical energy advice and has established itself as a reliable partner across Staffordshire.

AKG has begun delivering a new phase of the Cannock Chase Discovery Programme, continuing vital work to support residents into learning, employment and better health outcomes across the district.

The programme, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and commissioned by Cannock Chase Council, began its new phase on Monday 14 July 2025 and will run until March 2026. It builds on a successful year of delivery, which saw over 180 residents referred into support, strong cross-sector collaboration and excellent performance across skills, wellbeing and employability.

The Leader of Cannock Chase Council, Tony Johnson, is to step down from the role for health reasons.

Councillor Johnson announced that he will officially resign as leader on Wednesday 24 September.

He will continue in his role as Councillor for the district’s Chadsmoor Ward.

Councillor Johnson, 67, has served as a Labour councillor on Cannock Chase for a combined total of 25 years over two periods. He became council leader in 2023 - having previously held various roles including Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Planning.

Cannock Chase Council has pledged its support for Gas Safety Week (8–14 September 2025) and will be sharing important advice with council tenants and residents to raise awareness about the importance of gas safety.

Gas Safety Week brings organisations across the UK together to highlight the dangers of poorly maintained or badly fitted gas appliances, which can cause leaks, fires, explosions, and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. To keep your home safe and your appliances working efficiently, it’s vital they are checked every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet has decided not to move forward with the proposed Community Asset Transfer of the Prince of Wales Theatre to Cannock Chase Theatre Trust (CCTT), following a discussion at last night’s meeting.

The decision was based on an independent expert report which concluded that the proposal was not financially viable and did not demonstrate the necessary financial security, operational planning, or delivery capacity required to ensure a sustainable transfer.

Cannock Chase Council is asking for your views on a proposal to remove an air quality management area along the A5 (Watling Street).

Back in 2014, the A5 (Watling Street), between Churchbridge and Brownhills, was declared to be an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), because of high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). This gas, which is part of vehicle emissions, can affect our health – especially those with existing lung conditions. The AQMA means that the Council must find ways to improve air quality until it is at an acceptable level.