Last month marked a significant milestone for one of Staffordshire’s most iconic landmarks: Castle Ring celebrated 100 years since being designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. First listed on 30 November 1925, Castle Ring is the highest point on Cannock Chase and a treasured Iron Age hillfort offering stunning views and a glimpse into our region’s rich history.

Cannock Chase Council has approved the appointment of a new operator to deliver its leisure services for the next decade.

The decision was formally approved by Cabinet following a rigorous procurement process.

Three tenders were received, with Cabinet agreeing to award the contract to the highest-scoring bidder.

The next steps in major plans for the transformation of Cannock Town Centre are to be discussed by senior councillors next week.

Work is already on target to bring down the eye-sore multi-storey car park and Cannock Chase District Council recently got approval for the demolition of the Forum Shopping Centre as part of the multi-million pound government funded plans.

Residents across Cannock Chase have been trained to use a bleed kit in an emergency, thanks to funding from the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC).

A total of 125 members of the public have taken part in six sessions, which focused on equipping people with the knowledge and confidence to respond quickly and effectively in the event of a catastrophic bleed.

Representatives from Cannock Chase Council, Cannock Police, and domestic abuse charity New Era are joining forces to mark White Ribbon Day, a national campaign aimed at ending violence against women and girls.

White Ribbon Day takes place on Tuesday 25 November, encouraging men and boys to become allies in challenging and preventing all forms of violence and abuse.

Residents across Cannock Chase can now access tailored one-to-one advice and support with their benefits through a dedicated service delivered by Citizens Advice Staffordshire South West, thanks to funding by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

The service is designed to help individuals and households understand their entitlements, make eligible claims, and receive support with appeal tribunals where needed.  As many residents may not be aware of the additional support available through Universal Credit or other benefits.

Young Enterprise (YE) is continuing to deliver the Raising Aspirations for Young People Programme in Cannock Chase District until March 2026.

The programme supports young people in the District’s High Schools to raise their aspirations and to make informed decisions about subject choices and their future careers.

The funding for the programme (£79,983) has been allocated from the Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF) for 2025/2026 totalling £988,573.

Businesses across Cannock Chase can access expert support, advice and training from a new dedicated advisor.

Under a partnership between Cannock Chase Council and Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub funded through the Cannock Chase Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocation for 2025/2026, Sue Collins will use her business acumen to help entrepreneurs in the district achieve their business ambitions.

In the role, Sue will deliver a series of workshops, as well as one-to-one support and signpost businesses to grant support, training and relevant resources.

Residents across Cannock Chase can now renew their garden waste subscription for brown bin collections in 2026.

The price for the annual subscription is £40, remaining competitively priced with neighbouring districts.

Subscribers will receive a new blue permit in the New Year, which should be clearly displayed on the brown bin underneath the handle, covering last year’s green permit.

In 2025, we had 22,570 households signed up to the service, with a total of 23,114 permits issued, helping to recycle 5171 tonnes of garden waste across the district.

Councillors in Cannock Chase have agreed on a proposal for a new authority serving South and Mid-Staffordshire that could save taxpayers nearly £30 million a year.

The council were discussing options for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in the county at a meeting last night (Wednesday) before a business case for a new unitary authority is submitted to Government.