Cannock Chase councillors have responded to new legislation from Government for a pavement licensing scheme, by voting unanimously to support it at its Council Meeting held last evening. The scheme allows businesses selling food and drink to place tables and chairs and associated furniture outside of their premises.

Furthermore, councillors agreed to make the `pavement licences` free of charge to successful applicants. Other local authorities have decided to charge businesses £100 for a licence, the maximum amount allowed by Government.

Cannock Chase Council is supporting a new way for local retailers to sell their products and services online.

ShopAppy provides an online shop window where customers can browse, buy and collect or arrange home delivery and is now available in over 100 areas in the UK. It is offering 12 months free subscription for all independent retailers in Cannock Chase District. The scheme is being run in conjunction with VISA.

The cost of the subscriptions is being met by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP).

Cannock Chase District residents are being reminded that its outdoor `street` market in Cannock town centre is returning from Friday with risk assessments, social distancing and a new layout to manage queuing safely, all in place.

The market in Market Place usually extends to Market Hall Street but this part of the market will temporarily move to Market Place to allow for adequate social distancing along Market Hall Street.

Social distancing signing and information to remind people to ‘Stay Alert’, subways where you keep left, the temporary suspension of parking bays, and the full return of the street cleansing service feature as part of measures to keep shoppers and retailers safe as non-essential retail is allowed to re-open from Monday (15 June).

Cannock Chase Council is able to support retailers planning to re-open from 15 June with practical advice and information on how to manage customers queueing and entering the premises and protecting retail staff with appropriate hygiene measures.

The Council’s Environmental Health Teams have already been working with food premises providing a take away service and are on hand to support all non-essential shops across the District due to open soon.

A new grant scheme is now available to small businesses who may have missed out on previous government funding.

The new £1million cash pot is aimed at businesses with high property-related costs who have suffered a substantial drop in income as a result of Covid-19 but could not access existing grant schemes.

Environmental Health Officers from Cannock Chase Council have been visiting businesses in Cannock town centre to find out what measures have been put in place in response to COVID-19 restrictions and understand the challenges faced.

Lindsey Ellison, Senior Environmental Health Officer, Food and Safety Team said:

With the unemployment figure for Cannock Chase District rising to 4.8 per cent in April’s figures, Cannock Chase Council is signposting those unemployed to local organisations for information and advice to help them get back into work.

The last time the District’s unemployment rate was this high was January 2010.

The Council works closely with organisations supporting businesses and the local economy including local enterprise partnerships and local colleges, all of whom – including the Council – will do all they can to help the area recover from coronavirus.

Following the devastating impact coronavirus has had on Cannock Chase District, in common with other areas, the Council’s Cabinet has agreed a framework for recovery which will be key to the Council, local economy and the community all moving forward.

It has been agreed that `Supporting Recovery` will become the overarching priority for the remainder of its Corporate Plan covering 2018-23 and four key areas of focus have been identified: economic recovery, community recovery, the Council’s financial recovery and the Council’s organisational recovery.

The owner of the former Rugeley Power Station site, ENGIE, has submitted a revised planning application for the redevelopment of its site which includes the addition of either an All Through School (ATS) serving nursery pupils up to post 16 students or a stand alone primary school, along with new sports provision for both school and community use.

The revised outline planning application made to Cannock Chase Council and Lichfield District Council follows the granting in January 2020 of outline planning permission by both councils for the mixed-use redevelopment of the site.