Residents

Following on from planning consent CH/18/268 approved in October 2018 for the demolition of Rugeley Power Station, the Council has received an outline application for the redevelopment of the Rugeley Power Station site. The proposed development will deliver up to 2,300 No. Residential Dwellings, up to 5 hectares (ha) of employment land, up to 3.2 ha of ground mounted solar panels, up to 1.2 ha of mixed use development comprising community facilities including 2 form entry primary school, associated access and supporting amenity space, landscaping, green infrastructure and sustainable drainage systems.

The application is accompanied by a large range of documents including an Environmental Statement and appendices which can be viewed in full on the Council’s main application website here.  The application reference number is CH/19/201.  Please quote this in all correspondence in connection with the application.

In order to assist with the publicity of the application, the Council has selected key documents that are likely to be of interest to most people. These are published on this page as well as the main application page for ease of reference. These documents include:

Last Updated: 06/06/2019

The Council has joined forces with environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy to launch #BintheButt to stamp out cigarette litter, which causes significant damage to marine life. 

The Council is calling on smokers to rethink how they dispose of their cigarettes, as research reveals that only half (53%) of Brits know that cigarette butts get washed into the sea if they are dropped down the drain.

The campaign ‘Flicking Blue Murder’ will be rolled out across the District to tackle this problem. Promotional material including posters, beermats, outdoor banners and digital advertising will be displayed in local pubs, schools, parks and town centres.

Local pubs will also be offered additional wall mounted ashtrays to encourage smokers to bin their butts rather than simply flicking them on the ground.

In addition to this, the Council has installed a ballot bin in Cannock town centre to tackle the problem of cigarette butt littering with further ballot bins being installed in Hednesford and Rugeley town centres in the coming weeks.

The ballot bins will display a question and two answers. Smokers vote by putting their cigarette butt in the slot underneath their preferred answer. The litter stacks up behind the clear glass columns showing which answer is the most popular.

It is hoped by using interactive and gamification it will bring about positive behaviour change towards the environment. This has been supported by an independent evaluation which shows that using the ballot bin approach reduces littering of cigarette butts by 46% in the surrounding area.

Following Sir David Attenborough’s rallying cry to reduce plastic waste on Blue Planet 2, #BinTheButt aims to show how simple everyday behavior can affect the environment.

As the research suggests, cigarette butts are the most common form of litter that are dropped onto our streets everyday. While flicking a cigarette down the drain may not seem harmful, we need to ensure smokers understand that this has a direct and often drastic impact on wildlife.

It is hoped this campaign will encourage smokers to #BinTheButt and stop the flow of plastic, toxic cigarette butts getting into our rivers and oceans.

For more information about this campaign and how you can support it, visit the Keep Britain Tidy website.

Read a full copy of the Council's press release here.

Last Updated: 27/06/2019

The Council has access to a unique pot of funding, whereby you could receive a fully funded first-time gas central heating system into your home.

A new central heating system could save you up to £350 per year on your fuel bills, plus give you the added benefit of almost instant warmth throughout your home.

This scheme is open to homeowners and private tenants alike and is subject to eligibility criteria.

The central heating systems will be delivered and installed by E.ON, but you do not have to be an E.ON customer to apply or receive the measure, nor would you have to get your gas supply from E.ON.

Things to look out for that would indicate eligibility;
•    How do you heat your home? If you use Electric Storage Heaters, Electric Panel Heaters, Gas Fires or even a Solid Fuel Heating System, these can be replaced at zero cost to you. 
•    Do you meet the eligibility criteria for funding? Click here to check

Last Updated: 17/05/2019

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO)  is a Government energy efficiency scheme to reduce carbon emissions and help tackle fuel poverty.  

The Affordable Warmth element of the ECO, also known as the Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation, delivers heating improvement measures to those households on a low income.  

The Council has adopted a Statement of Intent, which includes flexible eligibility criteria to make the funding more widely available to households within the Cannock Chase district.

This statement of intent can be downloaded below.

Last Updated: 17/05/2019

The Council has pledged its support for this year`s Great British Spring Clean, run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.

The campaign which runs from 22 March to 23 April will see up to half a million people taking action to clean streets, parks and beaches across the country.

The Council`s Street Cleansing team is encouraging local residents and community groups across Cannock Chase District to get involved and will be providing litter picking equipment* and collecting bags of rubbish.

*Please note: Limited stock is available,  so equipment will be issued on a first come, first serve basis.

Contact the Council`s Street Cleansing team on 01543 462621 or email streetcleansing@cannockchasedc.gov.uk.

Download a copy of the Council`s full guidelines for organised litter picking events.

This year`s campaign will not only see tonnes of litter being removed from the environment on our doorstep, it also aims to rescue thousands of the plastic bottles and aluminium drink cans that are simply thrown on the ground but could very easily be recycled.

Using the `three bags full` approach, volunteers will be asked to separate the litter they pick into three bags; one for plastic bottles; one for aluminium cans and a third for the rest of the rubbish.

The Council will then collect these bags to ensure that they are recycled appropriately.

To find out how the Council is supporting this initiative read a copy of the press release.

For more information about the Great British Spring Clean visit Keep Britain Tidy`s official website.

Last Updated: 20/03/2019

Residential Properties that stand empty in the Cannock Chase District could be providing homes for the many people who need one.

Dwellings remain empty on a long term basis for a variety of reasons, for example because of inheritance issues, due to lack of funds for renovation or because owners are holding on to the property hoping for a rise in it’s value.

The longer a home is left empty the more likely it is to attract anti-social behaviour, to fall into disrepair and to become a source of anxiety to nearby residents.

On average it costs an owner approximately £8000 a year to keep a property empty. This cost includes rental loss, dilapidation, security, insurance and council tax.

Cannock Chase Council operate an interest free loans scheme to assist owners of dwellings which have been empty for over 2 years. Owners may be able to borrow up tp £10,000 to renovate their property. The loan is repaid when the renovations are complete either from the sale proceeds if the property is sold or via installments from the rental income if the property is let. For more information telephone 01543 462621 and ask for Private Sector Housing.

The Council’s Housing Options Team can provide specialist help and advice aimed at supporting landlords who manage their own properties. If you are thinking of letting your empty home and need some advice telephone 01543 462621 and ask for the Housing Options Team.  

Leaving homes empty is a waste, especially as the number of persons seeking accommodation rises.

The Council is keen to assist empty home owners with returning their properties to use, however in certain circumstances, and when all offers of voluntary assistance have been rejected, the Council will consider taking enforcement action to bring the home back into use.

Last Updated: 01/05/2019

There are a range of options available which may make your and/or your carer's everyday life much easier and safer.  These can range from small things such as jar openers, grab sticks, long handled shoe horns, talking clocks or personal alarms to larger home adaptations such as a stair lift, extension or a level access shower.

If you visit Staffordshire County Councils website you can view a range of products that you might find useful.  If you think you may need a home adaptation and want help with the cost of this, read the information below to find out more about our Disabled Facilities Grants.

What are Disabled Facilities Grants?

A Disabled Facilities Grant is funding to help a disabled person adapt their home to make it easier and safer to live in.

1. The works must be necessary and appropriate.  This will need to be discussed between the disabled person and an Occupational Therapist.
2. It must also be reasonable and practicable to carry out the works - this often depends on the age, condition and layout of the property.

Subject to the above, the following are examples of works that may be available:

• Facilitating access to and from the dwelling or the building in which the dwelling or, as the case may be, flat is situated.
• Facilitating access to a room used or usable as the principal family room.
• Facilitating access to a room used or usable for sleeping, or alternatively providing such a room for the disabled occupant.
• Facilitating access to a room in which there is a lavatory, a bath or shower (or both) and a wash basin, or providing a room in which there is such a facility or facilities.
• Facilities for the preparation and cooking of food.
• Facilitating access to and from the garden and make access safe.

Grants are available towards disabled adaptations to most types of living accommodation, including mobile homes and houseboats.

Who can apply?

You must be either the owner or tenant of the property. You do not have to be the disabled person for whom the works are required, it is possible for a landlord to apply on behalf of a disabled tenant.

If the adaptations are for a child, you can arrange for an assessment by contacting Children and Families Services at Staffordshire County Council Tel: 0800 1313 126 (Monday to Thursday 8.30am - 5.00pm and Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm) or email firstr@staffordshire.gov.uk.

If the adaptations are for an adult, you should contact Staffordshire County Council via the following:

• Website: Staffordshire County Council.
• Phone 0300 111 8010 to speak to an Advisor.
• Text/SMS (for people with a hearing impairment) Tel: 07814 194 111.
• Minicom users Tel: 01785 276207.

If the Advisor considers your needs can only be met by a home adaptation, they will send your details to Cannock Chase Council,  Depending on the number of enquiries received and the budget available Cannock Chase Council may operate a waiting list and you will be advised of this upon receipt of your enquiry. You will be contacted by the council’s benefits department who will ask you to complete a form with all of the financial details of the disabled person and there partner/spouse, a test of resources will then be carried out and you will be informed of any financial contribution you may be expected to make. 

How much can I get?

To make sure that the grant goes to the people who need it most, the amount of grant awarded is decided by conducting a test of resources (means test).This is carried out in accordance with regulations laid down by the government. The test of resources is used to assess the level of a client’s contribution towards the cost eligible works and is based on a formula calculating a notional level of need (the amount the government says you need to live on each week) compared to the relevant persons income and capital. The current limit for a Disabled Facilities Grant is a maximum of £30,000.00.

Who is subject to the test of resources?   

The disabled person who requires the adaptation and, the disabled person’s partner. If the grant is for the benefit of a child or young person under 19 who is in full time education (up to A level standard or equivalent) there is no means test for the parents. However if you are in receipt of one of the following income related benefits you will not have a contribution towards the grant.  

• Income support.
• Housing Benefit.
• Guaranteed Pension Credit.
• Income base job seekers allowance.
• Working tax credit with an annual income of less than £15,050.00.
• Child tax credit with an annual income of less than £15,050.00.
• Income related employment and support allowance.

Application process.

When the council has carried out a test of resources calculation you will be informed of the result. If this result is favorable and you are able to finance any contribution you are expected to make the council will then employ the services of an occupational therapist who will visit you to carry out a full assessment of any required works that are necessary and appropriate. This report will be passed to the council who will discuss the options with you.

The council can arrange for one of the private sector housing technical officers to survey your property who will assist in designing an adaptation to help meet your needs. This may involve provision of drawings, schedule of works, tendering to contractors, approving a grant, gaining permission from building control and planning permissions, party wall act, building over agreements. Managing contractors during ongoing works and gaining permissions from the property owner. Client’s contribution will be required before any works start.

If you live in a social rented property, you should speak to your landlord first as sometimes they can make adaptations as part of their planned maintenance to the property.  You may also need their permission to proceed with any works.

You are not required to use the council’s technical services within the housing act and can arrange, design and obtain quotations to make an application for grant yourselves. Please seek advice from the private sector housing team beforehand as a financial test of resources and occupational therapist support is still required.       

Last Updated: 21/02/2019