Cannock Chase Council has invoked its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) following two consecutive days/nights where the temperature has been recorded at 0 degrees centigrade or below. 

SWEP will see continued attempts by officers from the Council’s Housing Options team and outreach workers from its commissioned rough sleeper service, Spring Housing, to engage with those most vulnerable within the community. The Council will offer and arrange off street accommodation for the duration of this severe weather period. 

Beyond this seasonal response, the Housing Options team, Spring Housing and the Council’s Community Safety team all work in partnership daily to engage with rough sleepers, to accept offers of accommodation and other bespoke support they may need. Ensuring the provision of the wrap around care is essential to safeguarding these vulnerable individuals. 

Jeanette Donnelly, Housing Options and Homelessness Team Leader, said: “We never give up on these individuals, we recognise that they may have multiple needs and often come from difficult backgrounds. Not feeling able to take an offer of accommodation can be entrenched within them. 

“Through our partnership with Spring Housing we maintain our outreach work and communication throughout the year with rough sleepers and we continue our efforts to engage with them to accept off-street accommodation and the opportunity to rebuild their lives”. 

Councillor Jo Elson, Portfolio Leader for Community Wellbeing, said: “We are concerned about the wellbeing of all our residents, especially those we recognise as vulnerable. We work closely with our partners during cold weather, and throughout the year, to provide the best levels of support available to those who need it”. 

Cannock Chase Council’s ambitious plans to regenerate a key part of Cannock town centre have moved a step forward today (Wednesday 15 November) after councillors on the Planning Control Committee agreed to give outline planning permission.

The scheme to create a leisure and cultural hub based around the Prince of Wales Theatre and Church Street attracted £20m of Levelling Up Fund money from Government two years ago. In all, the scheme affects land bounded by Ringway, Church Street and Market Hall Street.

In its entirety the regeneration aims to deliver a mixed-use leisure and cultural hub, the refurbishment of the Prince of Wales Theatre, a new cafe/bar/restaurant premises within the theatre, business workspace and a new Northern Gateway into the town centre and associated public realm improvements.

Councillors voted unanimously in favour for the development.

Deputy Leader of Cannock Chase Council and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and High Streets, Councillor Josh Newbury said: “Securing outline planning consent is an important milestone for the Levelling Up Fund project and the regeneration of the town centre. We are keen to progress our ambitious plans to transform the Prince of Wales Theatre into a cutting edge leisure and culture hub, as well as opening up the town centre with a beautiful public space. 

“The Council can now move forward with detailed planning applications in early 2024 and more importantly, we will finally be able to reveal more about the plans to the public over the next 12 months.

“The Council intends to hold a number of public engagement events in early December to showcase the project. Further details on these events will be made available shortly.”

Photograph:
The Cannock town centre is changing identity that has been created and will be increasingly used as the scheme progresses.

Amanda Frisby, publican of The Cabin pub in Rugeley, Staffordshire has been ordered to pay a total of £766 after being found smoking in the bar - and allowing customers to smoke on the premises.

As part of an unrelated investigation, police officers viewed CCTV evidence of Frisby and others smoking at the pub, outside normal opening hours, and passed on the evidence to Cannock Chase Council, where the Environmental Health Service is responsible for enforcing smokefree legislation.

Frisby was later interviewed by Staffordshire Police and an Officer from the Council’s Environmental Health team when she admitted to both smoking and permitting others to smoke inside the premises, despite being aware that it is illegal to do so.

Five other people that were present were also issued with fixed penalties for smoking in a smoke free premises (an offence under the Health Act 2006).  
 
Councillor Andrea Muckley, Portfolio Leader for Environment and Climate Change, at Cannock Chase Council said: “The dangers of breathing other people’s tobacco smoke are well known. These laws were brought in seventeen years ago to protect public health. The law is clear and simple: anyone caught smoking in a smoke free place or anyone who allows smoking in such a place is committing an offence which results in a fixed penalty notice or prosecution.  

“The Council greatly values the assistance of Staffordshire Police in this matter, which shows partnership working at its best.”

Photograph:
Exterior of The Cabin pub, Market Square, Rugeley 

Pupils from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Hednesford have been supporting Parliament Week (6-12 November) by attending a workshop about the Second World War (WW2) and debating its consequences at the fitting venue of Hednesford War Memorial.

The event was able to take place following a successful application made by The Friends of Hednesford Park to the Speakers Fund, managed by the UK’s Parliament.

As part of the pupil’s involvement, they have been following a story walk installed in Hednesford Park which continues to the end of the month. The walk picks up on themes from the curriculum the school is following about the Second World War. A circular route, it takes around 20 minutes to complete. It offers QR codes to collect which can gain rewards on Cannock Chase Council and Inspiring Healthy Lifestyle’s Cannock Chase Can health and wellbeing app.

Today’s walk undertaken by the pupils and the workshop they attended managed to cover different aspects around the war and how it affected people at the time. Through discussion, the walk and workshop was able to help young people reflect on the people and places around Hednesford that make them happy and what they would be willing to fight for if they were faced with a war in their own lives.

Following today’s activities and debate, the young people’s views on war, where they live and what they value and wish to protect will all be gathered and incorporated into an 
interactive map of Hednesford. It will be available in print and on the Cannock Chase Can app in 2024.

Joining the school pupils at the workshop today and on the walk were Amanda Milling MP, representatives from Hednesford Town Council, Cannock Chase District Council, Staffordshire County Council, and various partner organisations. They helped the pupils understand the process of government from the local level to Parliament as part of their Second World War focus and how major events are debated, discussed and decisions taken.

Councillor John Preece, Portfolio Leader for Parks, Culture and Heritage at Cannock Chase Council, said: “Coming close to Remembrance weekend and the ongoing situation in Gaza and the Ukraine, this was an important opportunity for some of our young residents to understand and debate a key moment in our history and how war makes you think about the importance of democracy, what you treasure and what is ultimately worth protecting.

“In this, Parliament Week, it was pleasing to see that the councils, our MP and partners were all willing to give their time to help the next generation understand the challenges we all face and to be able to debate them without fear or consequence.” 

To find out more about the Cannock Chase Can app and to download it, go to www.cannockchasecan.co.uk  
 

Photograph:
Addressing the pupils from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School are (l to r): Councillor Darrell Mawle, Cannock Chase Council, Councillor Alan Pearson, Chair of Hednesford Town Council, Councillor Josh Newbury, Deputy Leader of Cannock Chase Council, Councillor Johnny McMahon, Staffordshire County Council, Amanda Milling MP for Cannock Chase, and Robert Plumb, representing the Royal British Legion Hednesford Branch.

Cannock town centre is to benefit from significant investment with the opening of a new nursing home for adults living with complex needs. 

Midlands-based Deeley Group, a family-owned business headquartered in Coventry, has partnered with leading national health care provider Exemplar Health Care to transform Cannock Chase Council’s former Avon Road Car Park, opposite the Asda supermarket, into a new 33-bedroom care home. 

Exemplar Health Care, which will own and operate the home once built, is funding the £6 million investment to bring this much-needed complex care service to the local community.   

Work on the new three storey building which includes communal living space, sensory bathrooms, a therapy room, car park and gardens, is expected to start shortly. Once open the home will create around 100 new jobs.

The land had been earmarked for sale in the Cannock Town Centre Development Prospectus. Planning Permission was granted to Deeley Group earlier this year, securing much needed new care facilities in the local community.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Tony Johnson said: “This is a very welcome investment into our town centre and fulfils a real need within the Cannock community for complex nursing care that allows people to be independent yet have their complex healthcare needs well supported - and in a location close to amenities.  

“We are delighted that Deeley Group and Exemplar Health Care have shown confidence in Cannock and decided to invest in our town centre, attracted by Avon Road Car Park’s inclusion in our prospectus launched a few years ago.

“The prospectus outlines land in the town centre available for development and complements work underway to create an exciting new leisure hub around the theatre and nearby Church Street as part of the £20 million Levelling Up Fund support from the government announced in 2021.”

Deeley Group is well known across the Midlands for delivering quality residential, industrial and mixed-use developments. 

Eleanor Deeley, Joint Managing Director of the Deeley Group, said: “This development will transform a redundant brownfield site into an important nursing home which will provide vital care for people living with complex needs in Cannock.

“This will be the fourth development we have worked on in partnership with Exemplar Health Care and we are proud to be creating this new care home which will also contribute to the wider regeneration of Cannock town centre.” 

Exemplar Health Care is one of the country’s leading nursing care providers for adults living with complex and high acuity needs. 

Charlotte Lloyd, Director of Commissioning at Exemplar Health Care, said: “Our aim is to make every day better for the people we support. We do this by focusing on maximising their independence, building everyday living skills and empowering people to live as fulfilled lives as possible. It’s our ambition for the home to be a place where our residents can be part of the community, whether through work placements, local events or volunteering.”

Exemplar Health Care expects to commence construction of the new home in November, with the first residents moving in by January 2025.

Photograph: 
Pictured at the former Avon Road Car Park site in Cannock, on the corner of Hunter Road, are (l to r): Councillor Tony Johnson, Leader of Cannock Chase Council, Charlotte Lloyd, Director of Commissioning at Exemplar Health Care, Eleanor Deeley, Joint Managing Director of the Deeley Group, and Dean Piper, Head of Economic Development and Planning at Cannock Chase Council.

£500,000 is to be invested in preventing and addressing anti-social behaviour (ASB) and associated crime in Cannock as part of the Government’s Safer Streets Five Fund. This is following a successful bid by the Staffordshire Commissioner’s Office (SCO). 

Longton and Tunstall in Stoke-on-Trent have also received £500,000 combined.  

This programme has been designed, and locations identified, by the SCO. The investment will be allocated specifically in the Cannock South and Cannock West wards of the district.

This funding is in addition to almost £3 million already secured by the SCO through Safer Streets in rounds one, two, three and four, and forms part of Staffordshire’s preventative approach to reducing ASB more broadly.

Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams said: “Tackling the anti-social behaviour that can harm our communities is a key priority in my Police & Crime Plan, as where these problems are repeated, residents can feel unsafe in their own neighbourhoods.

“This latest round of funding will help to boost the significant work already underway across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, combining practical measures like CCTV and improved lighting with education to change people’s behaviours - not only making our communities safer, but ensuring they feel safer too.”

The funding will provide a range of partnership interventions designed to help reduce ASB and improve people’s safety and confidence, including:
•    Additional street lighting, gating, fences and CCTV, and environmental measures such as clearing rubbish and cutting back overgrown greenery on walking routes
•    Street outreach workers delivering targeted engagement within local communities, including making referrals to appropriate networks and support agencies
•    Educational programmes on ASB within schools’ Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education curriculum
•    A street pastor or marshall scheme around the night-time economy and vulnerable locations, able to help identify, support and signpost vulnerable people to safe places and support

The interventions will cover the next 18 months between October 2023 and March 2025.
 
Amanda Milling, MP for Cannock Chase, said: “I very much welcome the funding that Ben Adams has secured from the government to continue to tackle anti-social behaviour in our area. I want residents to feel safe in our communities, however sadly ASB can have a real negative impact on how safe residents feel. I am therefore pleased that the Police Commissioner had made tackling ASB a priority and that further funding has been secured.”

Councillor Jo Elson, Portfolio Leader for Community Wellbeing at Cannock Chase Council said: “We are over the moon to receive £500,000 as part of the Safer Streets 5 Fund to tackle ASB in Cannock South and Cannock West wards. The funding will play a key role in preventing and reducing crime, which has been identified in these areas. CCTV, improved lighting, and environmental improvements will make it more difficult to commit a crime, ensuring our streets and communities feel safer.”

Chief Inspector Laura Morrey, Local Policing Commander for Cannock Chase said: “This is a really exciting opportunity. The additional investment will enable the Local Policing Team and the Council’s Community Safety Team to do even more to help keep our communities, and those who work and visit the district, safe. We are very grateful to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for their work in securing this funding.”

Photograph:
Councillor Jo Elson, Portfolio Leader for Community Wellbeing at Cannock Chase Council.

South Staffordshire College is thrilled to officially announce the move of its construction courses from Rodbaston College to Cannock College, following a successful funding bid to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Cannock Chase Council.

Within the Cannock Chase district, nine out of the top 10 occupations held by local people are within construction specialisms. The area also has over 20 % more job openings within construction than the national average.

Located within the heart of the town centre of Cannock, Cannock College is perfectly placed to support young people and adults within the area to gain valuable skills and experience to secure sustainable employment within the construction sector and fill existing job openings. The college will also support people already working within the construction sector to gain higher level skills to help increase their earning potential.

Thanks to £397,954 funding from the UKSPF fund the college has been able to build a bespoke carpentry workshop for both site and bench carpentry and purpose-built wet trades workshops to support the delivery of brick, flooring and painting.

Andy Cartwright, Director of Faculty for Technology, Business and Service Industries at South Staffordshire College said “South Staffordshire College, in partnership with Cannock Chase Council, has secured nearly £400,000 in funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. With industry experts in our staff, many of whom are former construction professionals, we are dedicated to addressing the skills shortage in the Cannock Chase district. This investment enables us to provide tailored training, supporting local businesses and meeting the urgent needs of our community.”

Kirk Hookham, Deputy CEO at South Staffordshire College said; “It gives me immense pleasure to see South Staffordshire College bring construction training into Cannock Chase. With a background in construction myself I know very well the opportunities this industry provides for those who work within it. Training the next generation of builders to provide the houses, shops, factories, leisure facilities and infrastructure we rely on is crucial not only in Cannock Chase but nationally. To be able to learn these skills, from industry experts, in the newest facility of its kind in the West Midlands is an amazing opportunity”

Councillor Josh Newbury, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Leader for Regeneration and High Streets at Cannock Chase Council said: “The council is delighted to be investing nearly £400,000 of UKSPF money in the college. We are hearing a lot at the moment about the importance of growing and building the economy, so this significant investment in construction courses locally is both timely and welcome.

“`Welcome` for our young people looking to enter an industry with lots of opportunities to get a good job and learn new skills, and `timely` with a renewed emphasis on building and improving our infrastructure. The council looks forward to extending its already strong working relationship with the college as we both look to develop the local economy.”

If you’d like to #CreateYourCareer in construction at Cannock College why not visit us at one of our upcoming open days. To find out more and book your place visit: southstaffs.ac.uk/open-days

Local author, Cheryl Davies from Rugeley, brings a Halloween tale to local parks this October, with the launch of her ‘Perfect Potion’ story walk for families.

‘The Perfect Potion’ is a fun story, written by Cheryl, about witches, magic and sisters! It is a fun tale about two young witches who have very different personalities and styles. The story has been made into a walking trail in Cannock Park, Hednesford Park, Elmore Park in Rugeley and Heath Hayes Park and has been supported by Creative Development at Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles. Cheryl’s background in mindfulness and wellbeing shines through with her positive stories that support children.

Families with young children are encouraged to visit their local park and take on the QR code collection challenge through the Cannock Chase Can App. The first 10 people to complete the challenge on the app will receive a free signed copy of ‘The Perfect Potion’.

The Cannock Chase Can App is available to download for free via Google Play and the App Store.

Author Cheryl Davies, said: “The Perfect Potion is a lovely story that gives young children the fun of Halloween without the scares! It’s told in rhyming verse and the beautiful illustrations should capture the children’s imaginations. This has been a wonderful opportunity to promote my work, as a local business, and also give families a chance to enjoy a free activity to improve their wellbeing by accessing their green spaces."

Louise Rose, Creative Development Lead at Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles said: “This project has been a great opportunity to support a local author in exploring new ways to promote their work. The story walks are a fun way to engage young children in reading and spark a lifelong love of books."

Councillor John Preece, Portfolio Leader for Parks, Culture and Heritage at Cannock Chase Council, said: “It is great to see our local parks getting involved and showcasing the work of a local author. The story frames are positioned around all four parks and contain a unique QR code. These need to be scanned via the Cannock Chase App to complete the challenge.  

“This activity is a great way of getting individuals and families visiting our local parks and exploring what is on their doorstep. The short walking routes also provide an opportunity to undertake low level physical activity which in turn will have a positive impact on people’s health and wellbeing."

The story walk launches on Thursday 26 October and is available until Sunday 12 November. Cheryl will also be running a free half-term craft workshop at Hednesford Library on Tuesday 31 October for families to get involved in.

For more information about Cheryl’s work visit: www.findmagicwithin.com

Photograph:
Youngster taking part in the `Perfect Potion` story trail.

Two footbridges in popular amenity sites in Cannock Chase district are to be replaced following a decision made by the Council’s Cabinet last Thursday (12 October).

They are at Anglesey Nature Reserve near Hednesford and at Rawnsley Woods in Rawnsley.

There are two bridge locations at the nature reserve. The one that will be replaced is the pedestrian bridge near Hereford Road which had been previously removed because it was beyond repair. Reinstating it will improve access to the reserve and allow residents to fully enjoy this area of open space.

Likewise, there had been two pedestrian bridges in Rawnsley Woods, both demolished. The main one linking footpaths from St Thomas Drive and Littleworth Drive to Cannock Wood Street will now be reinstated, following Cabinet’s decision. 

The work will be paid for from the Council’s existing capital budget. £110,000 has been set aside and the Council is hopeful the quotes will fall well below that sum. 

Previously, the bridges and Rugeley Boardwalk had been considered as one project.  Rugeley Boardwalk was demolished in 2019 after being deemed unsafe. It spans a distance of 45 metres and was constructed of timber. Cabinet has now agreed to separate these projects and Rugeley Boardwalk will be considered on its own, at a later date, as part of the Council’s wider capital budget setting process. Earlier estimates suggest replacing the boardwalk could cost around £200,000. 

Councillor Andrea Muckley, Portfolio Leader for Environment and Climate Change said: “There has been much discussion about repairing footbridges in the district; a discussion which includes the Rugeley Boardwalk. I have been actively campaigning for over three years, as a Ward Councillor, for a replacement bridge in Rawnsley specifically and the other bridge and boardwalk generally. The people of Rawnsley and Hednesford have shown considerable patience since their bridges were removed over three years ago and it is now time for that patience to pay off.

“I am therefore absolutely delighted that we are now in a position to go ahead and allocate funding for two bridges which have been sorely missed by residents who enjoy visiting the nature reserve and the woods, and who have had to navigate difficult routes to reach these well-loved places in their absence.

“Finances are challenging at the moment, and so while we would like to repair more than these two bridges, we cannot make that commitment right now. We confirm that we are nevertheless committed to taking a fresh look at Rugeley Boardwalk as part of future capital spending considerations. This project is more complex and more involved than these two bridges and therefore requires careful consideration, but we want to assure the people of Rugeley that it absolutely remains on our radar.”

Replacing the two bridges was one of the new Cabinet’s initial priorities when it was formed after last May’s elections, as a Labour, Liberal Democrats and Green parties coalition. 

Councillor Sue Thornley, Portfolio Leader for Housing, said: “We are pleased that this is the first project promised by this administration to come to fruition. This has been an excellent example of cross party working that we as the biggest partner in the coalition are determined to facilitate.”

Photograph: 
Councillor Andrea Muckley, Portfolio Leader for Environment and Climate Change, at Cannock Chase Council.

A new support package will streamline funding support for Cannock Chase businesses. It follows Birmingham City Council securing £7.4m of new grant funding to support SMEs in the region, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which is a central pillar in the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda, providing £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025.  

One of the aims of the UKSPF, which is a fund set up to succeed and improve upon previous EU funding, is to simplify the funding process for businesses looking to access funds.   

As a result, Cannock Chase Council has partnered with Birmingham City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Shropshire Council to launch the West Midlands SME Grant Programme (WMGP) thereby delivering a consistent package of business support across the region.

Councillor Josh Newbury, Cannock Chase Council’s Deputy Leader and Regeneration and High Streets Portfolio Leader said: 

“Cannock Chase businesses have benefitted greatly from previous funding schemes like this. This new fund is great news for businesses looking to grow, invest or tap into new markets. It is particularly good to be working with other authorities across the region to collectively support businesses all across the West Midlands.”

Start-up and existing small-to-medium sized businesses based in the Cannock Chase Council local authority area can apply for grants from £2,500 to £100,000 to support their growth projects. Businesses must employ less than 250 people.

The majority of applications are expected to be for an average grant of between £10,000 to £20,000. Support is also available for Cannock Chase businesses looking to take on apprentices. A larger grant will only be awarded in exceptional circumstances. This is to make sure that as many businesses as possible can benefit from the limited budget available.

Awards will be considered for the following types of projects:

• expanding and growing existing businesses
• inward investment 
• developing new markets opportunities
• innovation, including new product development 
• capital investment
• an increase in the productive capacity of new and existing premises through new property builds, refurbishment and extensions
• digital projects

Applicants must demonstrate their projects will create new jobs. Grant awards will also be limited to a maximum of 50% of the total project costs with businesses expected to ‘match-fund’ whatever grant amount they receive.

All business sectors are eligible but there are some types of businesses and organisations that will not be able to apply. All potential applicants are therefore urged to refer to the eligibility criteria to make sure they qualify before submitting an application.

You can download the WMGP eligibility criteria and other WMGP documents at http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/wmgp

If you want to receive the WMGP application or have any queries please email wmgp@birmingham.gov.uk.