Residents

Introduction to the Repairs Service

What We Do -

The Housing Maintenance Repairs Department carries out thousands of repairs to Cannock Chase District Council Properties each year. These repairs are broken down into the following categories –

Responsive Repairs – These are internal and external reactive repairs which are carried out by our Multi Trade Operatives. Emergency, Urgent and Routine repairs are completed under this category.

Void Repairs – These are carried out by our Multi Trade Operatives to ensure the most efficient completion of void repairs to Cannock Chase Councils lettable standard and the Decent Homes Standard.

Planned Repairs – The Housing Maintenance Repairs Department has Planned Works Programmes being carried out all year round. These include –

Fencing repairs/renewals
Guttering repairs/renewals
The Vulnerable Decorating Programme

Other Planned Programmes are also being considered for future maintenance works.

Please see the repairs Handbook below and also the Repairs Charter.

Housing Services Repairs Handbook

Housing Maintenance Section

Last Updated: 27/07/2018

Housing Complaints and Compliments

If you wish to provide some feedback or to make a complaint you can do this via:

◾Council’s website: http://www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/council/about-council/customer-feedback-help-us-get-it-right
◾Email: tonymcgovernpa@cannockchasedc.gov.uk
◾Letter: Cannock Chase Council, PO Box 28, Civic Centre, Beecroft Road, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 1BG
◾Telephone: 01543 462621

For further detailed information about the complaints procedure please see https://www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/sites/default/files/customer_feedback_complaints_policy_-_final.pdf

As a social housing provider the Council is a member of the Housing Ombudsman Service. The Housing Ombudsman Service (the Ombudsman) is set up by law to look at complaints about housing organisations that are registered with them. The Ombudsman resolve disputes involving tenants and leaseholders of social landlords (housing associations and local authorities).

The Ombudsman considers complaints using dispute resolution principles, and encourage landlords and residents to use these principles so they can resolve complaints together at the earliest possible opportunity. To better enable this, the Ombudsman recently published their Complaint Handling Code in July 2020. A self assessment has been undertaken against the code, please see document attached below.

Complaint Handling Code Self Assessment

Last Updated: 23/12/2020

Development Control News

Retail Premises Temporary Extended Opening Times

Government Statement (30.11.20) regarding extended opening times for retail premises in December 2020 and January 2021

Planning Enforcement Protocol

The Planning Enforcement Protocol has been updated, in response to service demand - Please refer to the Planning Enforcement page for more information.

BT Payphone Consultation

BT are consulting on their proposals to remove two public telephone kiosks. Read the draft decision notice for more information and on how to provide a response.

SCC Rights of Way Definitive Map

The map for Hednesford Parish which includes public footpaths has been updated by Staffordshire County Council.

BT draft_notice_notification

scc_hednesford_public_footpaths_map

Last Updated: 18/12/2020

Views sought on improvements to The Cema - Chapel Street Park in Norton Canes

Published:

Monday 23rd November 2020 | 1.19pm

Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet approved the spending of £120,000 to improve the play area and open space at The Cema – Chapel Street Park in Norton Canes in December 2019.

The money has been allocated from Section 106 funds collected from housing developments in Norton Canes.

The improvements will include a new fully equipped play area, circular footpaths, landscaping, green gym equipment and artwork reflecting the heritage of the area relating to the canal basin and mining heritage.

The Council is working closely with Norton Canes Parish Council to seek the views of local people to see how the wider community would like the new play area and open space to look.

Consultation is currently taking place and will close on Monday 11 January 2021.

Councillor Christine Mitchell, Portfolio Leader for Leisure and Culture, said: “I’m delighted to see that progress is being made on this project. Councils have a major role to play in the provision of good quality parks, play areas and open spaces.

“The development will be designed to fit into the surroundings and enhance the local environment and will be suitable for all ages and interests.

“If you live in Norton Canes and use or visit the current play area and park, please complete the short survey and tell us what improvements you would like to see. Your feedback and suggestions will form part of the overall design proposal”.

Councillor John Preece, Chairman of Norton Canes Parish Council, said: “The Cema upgrade is much welcome and will be the beginning of a series of leisure improvements in the village. I would urge all residents to have their say on what they would like to see in this park”.

You can complete the online survey by visiting www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/thecema.

On completing the survey, people will automatically be entered into a prize draw to be in with a chance of winning £25 in Argos vouchers.

If you would like a hard copy of the survey or would like further information about the improvement works, please call the Parish Council on 01543 276812 or email nortoncanesparishcouncil@live.co.uk

To find out more and get regular updates about the ongoing improvement works visit www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/thecema

Pay for parking online, by phone, text or mobile app

You can pay to park using your mobile phone across Cannock Chase Council's car parks using PayByPhone. Simply register with PayByPhone online and you will never have to worry about finding loose change to park in the District again.

Read a copy of the full press release here.

What are the benefits?

You do not need to carry loose change to pay for parking
If you are running late returning to your car, you can extend your payment at the touch of a button (provided you have not exceeded the maximum stay in a car park)
You can use PayByPhone in other car parks nationwide, including airports and major shopping centres. Visit PayByPhone to find out more

How do I register?

Visit the registration page on PayByPhone's website. You will be taken to an online form where you will be asked to enter your address, car registration number, mobile phone number and payment details.

After registering, you will receive an email and text message confirming your registration.

Once registered, when you visit any of our car parks listed below, follow the instructions on the signs next to the pay and display ticket machines, and you will be able to pay for your parking using your phone.

How do I pay?

Read the PayByPhone's Instructions on how to pay online, through the app, over the phone or by text.

Transaction charges

It is important to note, when you use the service, an additional 10p may be added to your booking.

This is optional and is only payable if you register for the reminder text option.

If you do register for this service, then you will be charged an extra 10p for each text message reminder you receive.

Is it secure?

The PayByPhone payment system is compliant with the payment card industry standard PCI Level 1.

If you want to find out more read PayByPhone's FAQs on their support page

Car park location codes

Name of car park	Location code
Avon Road	804660
Beecroft Road	804661
Civic Centre	804662
Brunswick Road	804663
Danilo Road	804664
Backcrofts	804665
Cannock Railway Station	804666
Forge Road	804667
St. Paul's Road	804668
Market Hall	804669
Taylors Lane	804670
Market Street	804671

Last Updated: 25/11/2020

The Cema - Chapel Street Park in Norton Canes

In December 2019, Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet approved the spending of £120,000 to improve the play area and open space at The Cema – Chapel Street Park in Norton Canes.

The money has been allocated from Section 106 funds collected from housing developments in the village.

The improvements will include a new fully equipped play area, circular footpaths, landscaping, green gym equipment, to incorporate some artwork recognising the heritage of the area relating to the canal basin.

The Council is working closely with the Parish Council to seek the views of local people to see how the wider community would like the new play area and open space to look.

The development will be designed to fit into the surroundings and enhance the local environment and will be suitable for all ages and interests.

Consultation is currently taking place and will close on Monday 11 January 2021. You can complete the online survey here.

On completing the survey, people will automatically be entered into a prize draw to be in with a chance of winning £25 in Argos vouchers.

The new play area will be opening in Summer 2021!

If you would like a hard copy of the survey or would like further information about the improvement works, please call the Parish Council on 01543 276812 or email nortoncanesparishcouncil@live.co.uk

Last Updated: 23/11/2020

Housing Benefit Award Accuracy

Why have I been contacted to review my Housing Benefit claim?

Your claim has been selected for review due to a new initiative from the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) called Housing Benefit Award Accuracy. The aim is to ensure that you are being paid the correct amount of Housing Benefit and to identify if you may have had any changes in your circumstances.

Starting in October 2020, Cannock Chase Council will receive part of a list of claims from DWP that require a review.

If your claim is selected for review we will contact you and ask you to provide details of your current circumstances such as your household’s income, capital, and who currently lives with you.

If you have been asked to provide evidence as part of the review you can provide this via our online Benefits Portal here Submit Online Benefit Documents
If you need to report a change of circumstances you can do this here Report change in circumstances

The review of your claim must be completed so it is important that you respond to any letters or telephone calls that you receive from us. If you do not respond your claim will be passed to the assessment team for cancellation. You would not be able to reapply for Housing Benefit and would have to claim Universal Credit to include Housing Costs (you would still be able to reapply for Local Council Tax Support from us).

Last Updated: 29/10/2020

Commonwealth Games – Birmingham 2022

The next Commonwealth Games in 2022 will be hosted by Birmingham and the exciting news for Cannock Chase District is that we will be playing a part in this international sporting event when we host the men’s and women’s mountain biking.

The cream of the Commonwealth countries’ mountain bikers will descend on Birches Valley in Cannock Chase, managed by Forestry England, to compete for medals over a world class course on Wednesday 3 August 2022.

Birches Valley is already well known as a centre for mountain biking with two established waymarked trails called `Follow the Dog` and the `Monkey Trail`, as well as being the location of the Cannock Chase Cycle Centre.

Birmingham 2022 will take place between 28 July and 8 August. Cannock Chase is the northernmost venue for the Games and as such is `represented` on the Games official logo as the top of a triangular configuration that plots the locations of all the Games’ venues.

Tickets are expected to go on sale in early 2021. There will be 2,000 available. To register your interest please visit https://www.birmingham2022.com/the-games/tickets/

The attention the Games will bring to the District, especially from international television audiences where mountain biking is one of the most popular spectacles, will be significant and especially the legacy created. Cannock Chase Council, Forestry England and Staffordshire County Council, as the organising partners, are busy working with the team at Birmingham 2022 to make the preparations and to deliver a successful event.

We will include below information of particular relevance to our District as it is published including our latest Games' press releases. For further information on the Commonwealth Games visit www.birmingham2022.com

Apprenticeships

Applications are now invited from people interested in becoming an apprentice with Birmingham 2022. To find out more see https://www.birmingham2022.com/get-involved/apprenticeships/

Forestry England video

Forestry England has produced a video on its plans for a new mountain bike trail aimed at intermediate level users. Cannock Chase Council is financially supporting the new trail which will be a legacy project from the Games.

Legacy Project approved

Last Updated: 12/11/2020

Housing online - Guidance and Documentation

Change of Circumstances

CORE

Current tenant & applicants registration guide

Guide to creating a Gmail account

Guide to create a Yahoo account

Guide to create an Outlook account

New applicants registration guide

Medical needs assessment

Last Updated: 06/10/2020

New Blue Bin Sticker

We need your help with recycling in Cannock Chase, watch the video below to find out how.

Click to view a video explaining how to recycle correctly

During the end August and beginning of September we will be placing a new recycling sticker on all of the blue recycling bins in the District over the next few weeks.

The purpose of this recycling campaign is to make it clearer to residents what items can be recycled and put in their blue bin. Only household items identified on the sticker can be put in the blue recycling bin. If blue bins are found to contain any other items they will tagged and not emptied.

Since lockdown on 23 March there has been 60 full and part rejected loads and over 25,439 blue bins tagged and not collected due to contamination.

Common forms of contamination found in blue recycling bins are:

Nappies
Food
Paper towels/kitchen roll
Tissues
Clothing & Bedding
DIY materials including paint
Rigid plastic and plastic toys

These items are not recyclable at our Materials Recycling Facility and cost more to dispose of. If these items are found in the load contained within the bin lorry then the whole load will be rejected and sent for incineration.

The new sticker lists the common household items that can go in the blue recycling bin:

Newspapers, writing paper & magazine
Cardboard
Plastic bottles, tubs & tubs
Glass jars & bottles
Aerosols

Although some other items may be recyclable, like metals and clothing, unfortunately these cannot be placed in the blue bin because the Council’s Materials Recycling Facility does not have the capacity to reprocess them.

If residents are still unsure of what can go in their blue bin they can visit the Council’s website ‘which bin’ page www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/whichbin.

Councillor Josh Newbury, Portfolio Leader for the Environment, said “The coronavirus outbreak has placed a big strain on the waste and recycling service in Cannock Chase. The levels of waste have increased significantly because more people are at home and this has unfortunately had a knock on effect on the levels of contaminated waste being placed in residents blue recycling bins.

“Our waste partner Biffa have understandably clamped down on contamination in the blue bin since the coronavirus outbreak. All of the dry recycling collected from the blue bins is sorted at our Materials Recycling Facility by hand and contamination with personal waste such as wipes and tissues puts the operatives at risk from infection.

“We, as a Council are committed to improving the quality of the waste that can be recycled but we can only do this with our residents help and support. They have been fantastic through these difficult times and we would not ask them to do more unless it was absolutely necessary, but unfortunately the level of our contaminated waste is not reducing.

“We understand that it is sometimes confusing for our residents to know what can be recycled, but hopefully this new sticker, which has been designed following feedback from our residents, will help. All we ask is for our residents to think twice about everything they throw out and to follow the clear guidance on our new sticker. If it’s on the sticker put it in the blue bin. If it’s not on the sticker leave it out.”

Stickers will start to be placed on bins week commencing 24 August. At the same time our bin wagons driving around the District will display the sticker on the side of the wagon for all to see.

Last Updated: 08/09/2020