The Council

Staffordshire Warmer Homes is an initiative funded by Staffordshire County Council to deliver funded first time central heating systems to eligible homes across Staffordshire.

Households in Cannock Chase could be helped-out of fuel poverty, thanks to this brand-new scheme.

From August households that currently aren’t connected to gas, and meet certain eligibility criteria, could get a brand new fully funded central heating system set up in their home thanks to the Staffordshire Warmer Homes initiative.

The initiative is being rolled out in Cannock throughout August, September and October, after successful launches in Tamworth and Lichfield saw more than 200 people apply.

Councillor John Preece, Environment Portfolio Leader said “Community wellbeing is a priority for Cannock Chase Council, fuel poverty can have an impact on existing health problems and the elderly and vulnerable.

“To deliver this initiative we are working with Staffordshire County Council and E.ON.  I would urge residents in Cannock Chase who are eligible for this funding to apply.  You may not think it’s possible if you don’t have a gas supply but it is now!”

Eligible households are being written to directly, but others who think they might be eligible are being urged to go to www.staffordshire.gov.uk/warmerhomes, call E.ON on 0333 202 4481 to find about more and apply.

The Southern Staffordshire Employment and Skills Board is appealing for new board members following the appointment of a new Chairman.

The Southern Staffordshire Employment and Skills Board (SSESB) is a local subsidiary of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Employment Board.

The SSESB’s Delivery Plan and focus is aimed at creating jobs and growing the economy by raising skills levels and promoting employment opportunities.

Cannock Chase Council provides support to the SSESB through a dedicated Employment and Skills Officer, who is funded by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP (GBSLEP).

The current SSESB comprises of representatives from local businesses, colleges, schools and the Department of Work and Pensions.

The new Chairman of the board is Jason Challoner, Managing Director of ValYou Recruitment who was appointed in mid July 2019. He was previously a member of the board 18 months prior to being instated.

Councillor Tony Johnson, Portfolio Leader for Planning and Economic Development said “The GBSLEP and the Employment and Skills Board play an important role in supporting the skills agenda in Cannock Chase District.

“They not only bring funding and investment into the area, they also look at ways of reducing unemployment and improving skills levels of local residents.  If you have a strong business background then you could be a valuable asset to this board.”

Jason Challoner, Chair of the SSESB said “To support the aim of the SSESB we are looking to appoint several new board members.  We are looking for individuals than can add value to our discussions and help to deliver our plans across the GBSLEP Southern Staffordshire areas (which covers Cannock Chase, Tamworth, Lichfield and East Staffs (Burton).

“We need people that have a strong business background who stem from the Southern Staffordshire areas and would be willing to contribute their experience to help reduce unemployment and bring growth to the area.”

Board members will be expected to attend various meetings across the Southern Staffordshire area, approximately 4 times per year.

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a board member or send an ‘Expression of Interest’ please contact:  

Vernice Jeffers, Cannock Chase Council, Economic Development Department at vernicejeffers@cannockchasedc.gov.uk or call 01543 464214

Closing date for ‘Expression of Interest’ is 20 September 2019.

Environmental Health Officers have seized a lorry from a site in Hednesford, which they believe to have been involved in the commission of several waste offences.

The site in Hednesford was raided on 2 August, the men working on the site fled during the raid.  A blue HINO tipper, registration number P18 CDD was seized under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.  A Notice of Seizure has been published on the Council’s website, which includes information to anyone wishing to claim entitlement to this vehicle.

The Council are now investigating a number of waste offences linked to this lorry.  These offences carry a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Councillor John Preece, Environment Portfolio Leader said “Fly tipping is a serious offence and Council officers will continue to use all the powers at their disposal to deter, disrupt and detect offences in order to protect the environment and public health.

“I would like to thank our residents for continuing to serve as the eyes and ears of the Council, and support us with this important work.  We are determined to stamp out these rogue operators, whose fly tipping blights our communities and our countryside.”

The Council is continuing to offer a £100 reward to anyone who provides evidence that leads to the successful conviction of any person, business or other organisation involved in fly tipping waste in the District.

Anyone who witnesses fly tipping in the District is urged to report it to Cannock Chase Council by calling 01543 462621. Key information to pass on includes:

• The date, time and location of the incident.
• The make, model, registration number and colour of any vehicle used.
• A description of the people involved.

We are looking for feedback on the suitability of the facilities that are currently used, any proposed changes or any related matters.

Particular reference will be made to location and accessibility issues.  The Council would welcome the views of local electors as well as persons or organisations with particular expertise in relation to access to premises or facilities for persons who have different forms of disability. 

For more information and to participate in the review please follow this link.

CANNOCK CHASE DISTRICT COUNCIL NOTICE OF SEIZURE

Section 34B Environmental Protection Act 1990

1.    The vehicle and contents described below have been seized under the above Act by Cannock Chase District Council (the ‘Authority’).
2.    The vehicle is a blue HINO FY 2PUKA Tipper registration number P18 CDD, of which photographs can be found at Annex A.  The contents include a large quantity of mixed waste, a knife and bolt cutters. 
3.    The vehicle and contents were seized on 2 August 2019 at approximately 1530hrs from land occupied by Coopers Recycling Limited, Unit 8-12 Bestmore Industrial Estate, Station Road, Hednesford, Cannock, WS12 0QS.
4.    James Johnson, an authorised officer of the Authority, reasonably believes that offences have been committed under S.33 and S.34 Environmental Protection Act 1990, that this vehicle was used in the commission of those offences, and that proceedings for the offences have not yet been brought against any person.
5.    In accordance with Regulation 7(1) of The Control of Waste (Dealing with Seized Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 this Notice of Seizure will be displayed at the Authority’s offices and published on the Authority’s website for fifteen working days beginning with the first working day after the date of seizure.  A copy of this notice has been served on any registered keeper, any person entitled to take possession of the vehicle should be it subject to a hire purchase agreement, and the chief officer of police for the police area in which the vehicle and contents were seized
6.    Any person may claim entitlement to the vehicle and contents by writing to the address below within fifteen working days after the date of this Notice of Seizure.  A claimant will need to provide to the Authority evidence to establish their entitlement to the vehicle and contents.  As a minimum this must include the claimants name, address and proof of identity and if purporting to be the registered keeper of the vehicle, the registration document.
7.    The vehicle and contents may be sold, destroyed or otherwise disposed of in accordance with Regulation 21 if it is not claimed within the claim period or if a claimant who brought a claim within such period is not determined as entitled.
8.    If within the retention period the Authority commences court proceedings for an offence in respect of which the vehicle and contents were seized, the Authority may retain the vehicle and contents and on conviction may apply to the court to make an order for the forfeiture of the vehicle and contents.

Signed: Signed on Original                Name: James Johnson
Date: 5 August 2019                    Title: Environmental Health Officer

01543 462621
environmentalhealth@cannockchasedc.gov.uk
Cannock Chase District Council
Environmental Health, Beecroft Road, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS11 1BG

Cannock Wood Neighbourhood Area was designated on 6 June 2019.

The designation of a Neighbourhood Area is the necessary first step to enable the production of a Neighbourhood Plan.  A Neighbourhood Plan is produced by the relevant body who applied for the Neighbourhood Area designation, in this case, Cannock Wood Parish Council.

A Neighbourhood Plan may cover a range of issues related to the future development of the area, for example social, environmental and economic issues and can set out policies for determining future planning applications in the designated area. 

For further information in relation to the Neighbourhood Plan for Cannock Wood please contact Cannock Wood Parish Council. 

For other enquiries related to this designation and/or general neighbourhood planning information you may contact the District Council via email planningpolicy@cannockchasedc.gov.uk

Cannock Chase Council’s Parks and Open Spaces team have delivered weekly gardening workshops to local schools as part of the Heritage Lottery Fund project for Hednesford Park.

Littleton Green Community School have sent a group of young people for the past 2 years, where they have taken part in the ‘Plant Pots’ workshop as well as other activities.

On 19 July the children took part in a school assembly to showcase what they have been doing to the whole school, Teejai (member of the Plant Pots group) gave a tool talk and a demonstration on how to use loppers for cutting the correctly sized branches.  Wolfie a volunteer from The Friends of Hednesford Park and Cara, Cannock Chase Council’s Community Gardening Officer presented the group with Level 3 RHS Award certificates.

Councillor Christine Mitchell, Culture and Sport Portfolio Leader said “Cara Rakmee our Community Gardening Officer has worked with the young people, some of whom have low self confidence in academic work, but have shined when taking part in the gardening work in Hednesford Park. 

“These young people have not only supported Hednesford Park and War Memorial to achieve the Green Flag and Britain in Bloom Awards but have also gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s School’s Gardening Award, well done to them all.”

If you would like to take part in our volunteering program with your school or in the drop in sessions, please contact Lynn Evans on 07855 099353 or email lynnevans@cannockchasedc.gov.uk.

Cannock Chase Council (CCDC) and Stafford Borough Council’s (SBC) Building Control team nominated three construction projects which won awards at the LABC West Midlands Building Excellence Awards.

The awards aim to showcase buildings and design teams that have faced complex technical or construction issues and building site constraints.  The awards also celebrate the success of innovative and smart solutions.

The awards took place at Telford International Centre last month and CCDC and SBC along with partner project teams won the following awards:

• Winner of Best Change of Use of an Existing Building or Conversion for St George’s Mansions in Stafford with Shropshire Homes Ltd - the four storey building has been converted into 102 apartments
• Winner of Best Inclusive Building for Christchurch Academy, Old Road, Stone with Fords of Blythe Bridge and Entrust - extension and remodelling works to create new internal and external dining areas at Christchurch Academy
• Winner of Best Educational Building for Walton Priory Middle School in Stone with Fords of Blythe Bridge and Entrust - four additional classrooms, a new school entrance and reception area, additional office and administration areas and externally, a new staff & visitor car park and landscaping

The teams were also involved with the highly commended for the Best Large Commercial Project for the Oden Luxe Cinema, Waterfront Way in Stafford.

Councillor Tony Johnson, Economic Development and Planning Portfolio Leader said “I am very proud that our Building Control team and partner agencies have been recognised for their work at these awards.  It shows how diverse the projects that come into the Council can be.  These awards are recognition for all the hard work the team and the business they work with have put in.”

Cannock Chase Council has scooped six green flag awards, and has retained its top performing District Council status in the West Midlands, in a ceremony last week.

Green Flag Award winners were revealed on 18 July 2019 nationwide, and Cannock Park, Elmore Park, Ravenhill Park, Castle Ring, Stile Cop Cemetery and Hednesford Park are among the record breaking 1,970 UK parks and green spaces and 131 in thirteen other countries around the world.

This international award is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.

Councillor Christine Mitchell Portfolio Leader for Culture and Sport said: “We are absolutely delighted to have retained the six green flags for our parks and green spaces in Cannock Chase for the third year in a row.

"We know how much quality green spaces matter to residents and visitors, and this award celebrates the dedication that goes into maintaining the green spaces in the Cannock Chase District.”