The Council

Cannock Chase Council would like to reassure residents that waste and recycling collections, including the brown bin collections are continuing as normal in the District during the COVID-19 outbreak for the time being.

Council officers are talking daily with our contractors Biffa and updates are being posted daily on our website and social media pages.  Should there be any disruption to the service, due to operatives being taken ill, this will be posted on our website; Facebook and Twitter accounts as early as possible.

Mike Edmonds, Head of Environment and Healthy Lifestyles said “We would ask residents to check our website or social media pages daily for updates on our waste and recycling collections rather than calling our Customer Services team.  As you can imagine in these uncertain times we are experiencing high call volumes, which is why we are trying to keep our dedicated Coronavirus webpage as up to date as possible.

“We are asking residents to help by taking extra measures and to clean the handles of their bins before and after collections to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  We would also ask residents to respect the Government guidelines for social distancing and not to approach our operatives.”

To access the Council’s services page and coronavirus click on the following link: https://www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/residents/other/coronavirus-information-and-advice-council

On Thursday 26 March two loads of dry recycling (blue bin) were rejected at our materials recycling facility.  Contamination included, used tissues and wipes, clothing, bedding and household items.   The added issue of used, dirty tissues and wipes being placed in the blue bin is particularly serious at this time as all dry recycling goes through hand sorting by people at various stages.   During the COVID-19 outbreak this puts our facility provider’s employees at a great risk.  Government guidelines during this pandemic are to place personal waste (such as used tissues) in a bag, which should be tied securely.  This should then be put aside for at least 72 hours before disposing in your general waste (green) bin.

The Council has instructed its recycling collection crews to operate a zero tolerance towards any recycling container that is seen to contain tissues, wipes or other domestic waste.

Further guidance can be found at:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection#cleaning-and-disposal-of-waste

Cannock Chase Council will be processing Government grants to support local businesses across Cannock Chase District during the COVID-19 emergency.

The Council will be distributing grants of up to £25,000 for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors with rateable values between £15,000 and £51,000. Grants of £10,000 will be available for all businesses in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief. These will not need to be paid back.

The Council will be making direct payments to businesses using their bank details from Business Rates payments. However, businesses who do not pay Business Rates by direct debit are being asked to provide information and their bank details. These businesses will need to complete an online form by visiting www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/businessgrant.

In addition, the Council will also now be processing a 100% Business Rate relief for all businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors for 2020/21. For these businesses, new bills will be issued as soon as possible.

Additionally, for larger businesses, the Government has introduced a guaranteed loan scheme for any small or medium sized business (with a turnover of no more than £45m) that needs access to cash to help with immediate business costs. The scheme will offer loans of up to £5m, with no interest due in the first 12 months. This scheme is administered by the bank Industry.

Bob Kean, Head of Finance for Cannock Chase Council said: “In these uncertain times, we need to help as many businesses as we can. As a Council, we are here to support our residents and businesses, and we’ll process these grants as soon as possible to make sure that businesses have the money that Government has made available.

“We can assure you that we are diverting resources to ensure this is completed as quickly as possible and I would ask that you try and avoid contacting us for updates so we can focus on getting the money to eligible businesses.”

To find out more about support from Government and advice for businesses visit www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/coronavirus

Cannock Chase Council will be locking car parks located next to parks until further notice, from tomorrow (Friday 27 March).

Following reports of members of the public congregating in Council owned public spaces, we have taken to decision to close the gates to car parks at Cannock Park, Cannock Stadium, Hednesford Park, Heath Hayes Park, Elmore Park, Ravenhill Park (Armitage Road only), Hazelslade Nature Reserve and Castle Ring.

We hope this will discourage members of the public and ensure they comply with the guidance from the Government on social distancing. The guidance states that you should keep at least 2 metres away from any other member of the public.

Mike Edmonds, Head of Environment and Healthy Lifestyles said “During this difficult period the car parks will close to discourage car travel to the parks or visiting in groups.  All our parks will continue to have pedestrian access to enable our residents to exercise in line with government guidelines.”

All the car parks listed above will be closed until further notice from 4pm tomorrow, Friday 27 March.

Cannock Chase Council has trialled its first remote Planning Control Committee meeting with 15 members dialing in to make planning decisions during COVID-19.

The national planning system is experiencing extreme disruption as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, but Cannock Chase Council is continuing to operate its service and continue to make decisions.

It is important that the Council continues to provide the best service possible in these stretching times and prioritise decision-making to ensure the planning system continues to function especially where this will support the local economy.

Today’s Planning Control Committee went ahead remotely using telephone conferencing. Fifteen Planning Control Committee members, some of which are over 70 and self isolating called into make planning decisions, chaired by Councillor Sheila Cartwright.

The Committee approved in accordance with officer recommendation, the development of a 3G Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) at Rugeley Leisure Centre. This includes fencing, floodlights, a storage container, access pathways and a floodlit car park extension.

The Committee refused unanimously the planning application for the construction of two new four bedroomed dwellings on Rawnsley Road.

Councillor Sheila Cartwright, Planning Control Committee Chairman said, “The remote meeting was very successful, we’re aiming to continue operating the Council’s Planning Service as best we can as well as adhering to the Government’s social distancing advice and guidance. This may undoubtedly change over time, but with the use of digital technology the Council will adapt and continue to operate this service.

“Your local planning service shapes new development and the use of land across the District with the aim of achieving positive outcomes for people, the economy and the environment. By continuing to operate during these uncertain times, the service with remain a key role in helping to make the District attractive, vibrant and well-designed whilst ensuring the recovery of the economy is not held up by the planning system.”

The Council’s planning team is continuing to work from home and processing applications, site visits, planning consultations by moving to as far as possible an electronic means of handling planning applications. As such they are requesting that all future applications are submitted electronically via the Planning Portal and that people who wish to make comments to particular application should do so via the Council’s Planning website. All live planning applications are available for inspections on the Council’s website.

In addition, the Council’s planning team will also be embedding changes in legislation in relation to Permitted Development Rights (PDR) for pubs, restaurants and cafes. The Government has made it clear pubs, restaurants and cafes should no longer be open for on-site consumption but can remain open to provide a takeaway service.

To support pubs and restaurants and ensure access to food during the emergency period, the new national PDR will enable pubs, restaurants and cafes to operate temporarily as hot food takeaways. To give greater flexibility, the PDR will also cover cold and pre prepared food and will allow for takeaway delivery. The Council’s planning team will be supporting local businesses where possible.

To find out more about the Council’s Planning Service, visit www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/planning

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent has prompted the county’s public and emergency services to declare a major incident.

Staffordshire Resilience Forum (SRF) is made up of multiple agencies who work together to plan and prepare for localised incidents and civil emergencies.

The members of the SRF have agreed to declare the coronavirus a major incident in response to the unprecedented demand for multi-agency activity, which is beyond the scope of business-as usual operations and in recognition of the level-4 incident declared by the NHS. 

The focus of the SRF is to work together to prioritise the continued delivery of essential services, to support people who are most affected and to seek to preserve life and minimise the impact of the coronavirus on our local communities and businesses.

Dr Richard Harling, the Director for Health and Care at Staffordshire County Council is chairing the Strategic Coordinating Group, which is overseeing the multi-agency response.

He said: “Everyone is now aware that we are facing a unique challenge, with the Government addressing the nation on a daily basis.

“Declaring a Major Incident now is a way of making sure all public sector agencies and our partners can work together, share resources where necessary, and better anticipate and deal with challenges.

“It is something we prepare for and practice regularly. It does not confer any special powers or change the roles of the different organisations involved.

“This is a sensible step as we know from other countries that dealing with Coronavirus/COVID-19 is going to take time and persistence.

“Pooling resources is important because we know we will face challenges, particularly the likelihood that more staff will be self-isolating in the coming weeks and that will strain resources. We will be better able to do things jointly, such as and informing people in relation to any particular localised issues.

“Working together is something that we do all the time in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and the action we are now taking is simply aimed at making that process even more joined-up.”

“It is important that people continue following the advice from Public Health England and the Government.”

People should stay at home to help stop the spread of coronavirus and help protect their NHS. You should only leave the house for 1 of 4 reasons.

• shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible
• one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household
• any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
• travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.

If you're at high risk of getting seriously ill from coronavirus, there are extra things you should do to avoid catching it.

These include:

• stay at home at all times and avoid any face-to-face contact for at least 12 weeks – you should not go out to do shopping, pick up medicine or exercise
• stay at least 2 metres (3 steps) away from other people in your home as much as possible
• Ask friends, family or neighbours to pick up shopping and medicines for you. They should leave them outside your door.

If you need help getting deliveries of essential supplies like food, you can register to get coronavirus support

Direct contact is being made with around 1.5million NHS patients. Throughout the week, people identified from their medical records as being at highest risk (and who need to strictly follow this guidance) will receive a letter from their GP or hospital team with advice and information about what to do during this time and how to access support. Text messages will also be sent out during the week, reiterating the advice and signposting to sources of support.

If someone feels they are high risk, but have not received a letter by 30 March, they should contact their GP or hospital team.

The NHS is “rallying the troops” for the war on coronavirus, with volunteers being called up to help vulnerable people stay safe and well at home.

People can become an NHS Volunteer Responder and join the NHS’s trusted list of volunteers by visiting goodsamapp.org/NHS and adding their details to the NHS section.

Cannock Chase Council has lifted the pay and display requirements on its Brunswick Road Hospital car park in Cannock.

The car park adjacent to the hospital will have its pay and display requirements lifted until further notice for NHS workers and members of the public using the hospital during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Tony McGovern, Managing Director of Cannock Chase Council said “To support our NHS workers and members of the public using the hospital during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we will not be charging for parking on the Brunswick Road Hospital car park.”

The car park on Brunswick Road was re-developed last year for the benefit of hospital users and is the most convenient place to park when visiting Cannock Chase Hospital, it has 115 spaces and 15 disabled spaces and is located adjacent to the hospital.

Cannock Chase Council has made the decision to close all of its play areas and toilet facilities in the District.

This decision has been made in line with Government guidance on social distancing and from today notices will be put up regarding the closure and play areas will be taped off where possible.

Mike Edmonds, Head of Environment and Healthy Lifestyles said “The nice weather has seen a lot of people going outdoors over the last few days and not following government advice and the recommended guidance for keeping 2 metres apart.  So to help combat this we have made the decision today to close Council owned play areas and toilet facilities in the District.

“The play areas and toilet facilities will be taped off as best they can and we ask residents not to use these areas.  Whilst the parks will remain open for the time being, we ask people that are using them to respect the safety of others at all times, following Government guidance on social distancing.

“Whilst fresh air and open spaces are good for wellbeing and mental health, we all must play our part in keeping our communities safe.”

The Council will keep this decision under review and will update if there are any further changes.

Cannock Chase Council, in common with other public organisations, has been making arrangements to ensure as many of its services as possible can continue to be delivered during the current coronavirus situation, especially for the District’s vulnerable residents.

It is making plans with the backdrop that it has had to send about 25 per cent of its workforce home whose health is considered to be at high risk according to the NHS guidelines. The majority of these are continuing to work from home.

Staff are being asked to work from home where they are able. This includes staff who are currently self-isolating.

The priority is for the Council to maintain its frontline services and services provided by its contracted suppliers where possible. Senior managers are meeting daily to discuss the delivery of services and where changes or reductions will be necessary.

Unfortunately, this means that several immediate and necessary changes are being made affecting the Council’s Receptions, Council meetings, this May’s Council elections, leisure services and the cancellation of events organised by the Council.

In view of the concerns residents may have about their finances, the Council would like to stress that it will work sympathetically with residents who lose their job or cannot pay their rent as a result of the current situation, and it can guide residents through the processes if they have not made a claim previously. Furthermore, eviction proceedings will be suspended in the event rent cannot be paid. Government support has also been announced today in terms of financial support for employees.

Specific help and advice is available at www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/residents/benefits on claiming housing benefit and council tax reductions, claiming Universal Credit and other DWP benefits, getting help with budgeting and debt management. There is also information if you are having difficulty paying your Council Tax and difficulty paying your rent.

For businesses, several packages of measures have been announced by the Government in order to help them deal with the impact of the crisis. Full details are not yet available to the Council but are emerging daily. The Council will do everything that it can to get the reliefs and grants paid to businesses as soon as possible and without the need for an application, wherever it can.

These measures include:

• 1 year Business Rates holiday for retail and leisure businesses – we are reviewing our records and will be contacting businesses in the next few days.

• Small Business Support Grant of £10,000 for those receiving small business rate relief or rural rate relief – we will contact businesses directly with advice on how to access the grant, as soon as Government has confirmed the details.

• Retail and Leisure Business Grants of £10,000 in respect of retail or leisure properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or less. £25,000 to be paid to properties with rateable values between £15,000 and £51,000. The Council will contact those eligible as soon as it can.

Services from the Council that will be changing are as follows:

Receptions to close from Monday 23 March – and how to contact us

Unfortunately a consequence of the loss of 25 per cent of our staff is that we have to close our reception services at the Civic Offices in Cannock and the area office located in Rugeley Market. You can still contact us and access our services via our website www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk  or by emailing us at customerservices@cannockchasedc.gov.uk or you can phone us on (01543) 462621. Where it is essential for face-to-face contact with customers an appointment will be made.

Housing services

Staff are available to help the most vulnerable with their housing queries and needs. The Housing Reception at the Civic Offices will be operating limited opening hours for those people who are homeless and will only be open from 10am to 11am and 3.30pm to 4.30pm on Mondays to Fridays. During the current time, and in line with Government guidance, any planned tenancy evictions will be suspended.

May’s elections postponed

The District Council elections where 13 seats were due to be contested on 7 May have been postponed by the Returning Officer following advice from Government. These will be re-arranged within the next 12 months along with the election for the Police and Crime Commissioner that was also due to be held in May. Those councilors due to stand for election in May will now serve a further year.

Changes to Council meetings

All non-essential Member Committees such as Scrutiny Committees, Audit and Governance, Shadow Cabinet etc. will not proceed for the foreseeable future. It is intended that both Planning Control Committee and Licensing Committee will continue to meet subject to their being business to transact and that these meetings are quorate. The Planning Control Committee scheduled for 25 March is planned to proceed. Decisions will be taken on an ‘as and when’ basis and in consultation with the political Group Leaders as to whether Cabinet and Council will meet. This will be determined by the criticality of the business to be transacted and quoracy.

Cancellation of events and non-essential meetings

With reluctance the Council has decided to cancel events it was organising for the next few months, which includes planned VE Day celebrations due to take place on 8 May in Hednesford Park and involving community organisations. Council staff have also been advised to cancel all non-essential meetings and to avoid attending any external meetings unless these are necessary.

Leisure centres closing today (Friday 20 March)

The Prince of Wales Theatre in Cannock, managed by the Council’s leisure partner Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles (ihl) has already cancelled its current programme of shows and events until 30 April, in line with the request from Government earlier this week. Following the Government announcement today, the Chase Leisure Centre in Cannock, Rugeley Leisure Centre and 5s Pavilion and Sports Ground in Hednesford will also close from this evening (Friday). The Museum of Cannock Chase is also closed from this evening. The golf course at Cannock remains open for members to use. Bookings for the golf course will need to be made online.

Tony McGovern, Managing Director of Cannock Chase Council said: “In this fast moving national emergency, the staff and councilors at Cannock Chase Council will do all they can to help and guide our residents and businesses through this challenging period.

“The Council has a key role to play with its partners across Staffordshire to plan for the continuation of key services, and we are working with Government to respond to the national support that is being rolled out. Staff will have a key role to play in delivering advice and support, and ensuring that residents and businesses know what is being provided.

“We are updating our website and social media with information as it is provided. We are also seeing some great initiatives in the community, some of which involve our councillors.

“This is a difficult time for us all and we want to thank residents and businesses for their patience and understanding when trying to contact us or work with us. Collectively, we will get through this challenge.”

Information is being updated regularly so residents and businesses should keep an eye on the Council’s website www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk and in particular the features on Coronavirus and Beware of Coronavirus Scams, which unfortunately are happening, and our social media channels via Twitter @cannockchasedc and Facebook `search Cannock Chase Life`.

Cannock Chase Council officers will now be able to use wheel clamps on vehicles involved in fly tipping. 

The powers given to Environmental Health allow officers to seize a vehicle and its contents where they believe it is being, has been or is about to be used to fly tip.  The powers also apply where waste is carried in a vehicle in the course of a business, or for profit, and the driver is not a registered waste carrier.

The wheel clamps can be fitted in seconds and will prevent the vehicle being moved while the officer waits for the recovery vehicle to arrive.  Seized vehicles can be retained by the Council whilst the offence is being investigated and up until the matter is heard in Court.  Magistrates then have a range of powers on conviction that include ordering that the vehicle be forfeited and that the offender be disqualified from driving.  If the vehicle is not properly claimed, it is sold and the revenue retained by the Council to fund further work to deter, disrupt and detect fly tipping.     

Councillor John Preece, Environment Portfolio Leader, said “If the maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and an unlimited fine is not already a sufficient deterrent, losing their vehicles should send a strong message to anyone involved in fly tipping that it’s time to quit.  The Council has already seized two vehicles in recent months, with one being sold for more than £7,000 which has paid for these wheel clamps and more.  The public need to be aware that if their waste is found fly tipped, they will be visited by our officers and must be able to prove who they gave the waste to and that they checked that they were registered.”

To help prevent fly tipping, residents and businesses are reminded that if they have waste collected, the law requires that they check the person they employ to do so is a registered waste carrier.  They should ask for the person’s registered waste carrier number which can be checked by calling 03708 506 506 or online at www.gov.uk.  The details of the person and vehicle used to collect the waste should also be retained.        

If you witness fly tipping you should record the date, time and location along with the details of the vehicle, the people and the waste involved and contact the Council on 01543 462621.  If the offence is in progress, you should call 999.  To provide information anonymously call CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.