Cannock Chase Council has expressed their regret following on from the announcement yesterday, that Rugeley Power Station is expected to cease market operations this summer.

The closure expected in early summer 2016 is due to the deterioration in market conditions for UK coal-fired power generation.

This shocking news has come early for the District Council following the announcement in November 2015 of the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change policy proposal to close all unabated coal fired power stations by 2025.

RSD Pressing Ltd (formerly C& H Howe) have successfully relocated to a new larger facility at Watling Street Cannock with help from the Council.

RSD Pressing Ltd, presswork and projection welding engineers are an important long established business in the District and have moved from existing rented premises of 2100 sq.m to significantly larger purpose built freehold accommodation of 3000 sq.m.

The company have made a significant financial investment in the relocation and now has plenty of space to grow and expand, as well as looking at creating an additional 10 jobs.

On Thursday 5th May 2016 voters in Cannock Chase will go to the polls for local government elections and the election of a Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Staffordshire.

Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet is set to recommend a 1.95% increase in council tax.

Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet is set to recommend a 1.95% increase in council tax which equates to 6 pence per household per week, in order to protect future front line services in the District.

The current level of council tax has remained the same for residents since 2013-14.  However, with ongoing reductions in Government support, Council’s Cabinet is being recommended to increase council tax for 2016-17 by 1.95%.

Through its London-based European arm, Exeter Property Group has lodged a major planning application with Cannock Chase Council.

The planning application is to secure consent to build a substantial distribution warehouse on a 20 acre plot of land at Kingswood Business Park in Cannock.

The proposed building, which extends to a total of 372,000sq ft, also includes offices of 15,000sq ft and 329 car parking spaces on the site which is located immediately to the north of Blakeney Way adjacent to the Unilever building.

Cannock Chase Council’s no food waste campaign starts next week, informing residents that food waste is no longer accepted in the brown bin.

It was estimated that the garden and food waste previously collected in the District only contained a small percentage of food waste.  The Council was disposing of this through in-vessel composting or anaerobic digestion, which is an expensive process.

From 1st February 2016 residents will be required to dispose of food waste in their green bin or recycle it in the garden with a garden composter.

Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet is set recommend to spend £36,500 to replace damaged play equipment in the District

The equipment which was damaged in two separate arson attacks at the former Cannock Stadium site and Hayes Way play areas will be replaced with either like for like equipment or equipment in a similar design.

Councillor Christine Mitchell, Portfolio Leader for Culture and Sport said “The extent of the damage caused by these two attacks is unprecedented in the District. 

Cannock Chase Council members at their Council Meeting last week agreed to a freeze in their allowances following a review of the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

The Members’ Allowances Scheme has been reviewed by the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP), for which any changes will come into effect from 1^st April 2016.

These changes would result in an estimated saving of over £3,000.  This is in addition to the annual savings of over £8,000 previously agreed by the Council as a result of changes to the Committee structure. 

Cannock Chase Council is supporting Staffordshire Police’s, ‘Not sure? Don’t open the door’ campaign’, giving residents advice on how to deal with doorstop callers.

The Cannock Chase District is a very safe place to live and statistics show that residents do feel safe in their local area and the majority of residents do not experience any kind of crime.

However, some people are targeted at home by rogue traders and thieves.  These people often target vulnerable people, such as the elderly.  So we are asking residents to follow these simple rules:

Are you a local person who cares about services to the community?

If so, you could be the person we are seeking…

We are looking to appoint one independent person and at least one ‘reserve’ independent person to serve on the Council’s Standards Committee to help develop and maintain high standards of conduct for local Councillors.