Non essential shops in Cannock Chase District’s town centres are preparing to re-open on Monday 12 April, following the Government’s announcement on Monday that the next stage of lockdown easing would proceed.

The Council has been reviewing safety measures in the town centres to ensure that they are Covid safe and ready to welcome back shoppers, when they can re-open on 12 April.

Cannock Chase Council has extended the range of businesses who are eligible for its discretionary grant scheme known as Additional Restrictions Grants (ARG).

It follows the Chancellor’s budget statement last month which promised further support from April to those businesses continuing to be affected by lockdown measures and means grants will become available to self-employed businesses from 30 April.

A takeaway restaurant has been closed by Cannock Chase Council after serious food safety issues were found. 

Environmental Health Officers carried out an inspection of Mr Kay’s on Walsall Road, Cannock, following complaints, alleging mouldy pizza dough and poor conditions.  During their visit to investigate officers found evidence of rodent activity, defective drains, dirt, grease and poor food hygiene standards.  Officers required the restaurant to close immediately.

Cannock Chase Council is undertaking a new campaign to highlight `the blight of fly tipping`.

Called `We Are Watching` it uses radio advertising, social media and vinyl artwork on  Council vehicles to get over the message that fly tipping creates an unsightly mess, that through CCTV offenders can be caught, and that residents can play their part by reporting fly-tippers.

Using resources developed by Keep Britain Tidy, the campaign also highlights the consequences if individuals fail to take proper care when disposing of waste.

Cannock Chase Council is seeking your views on important plans and documents that will shape the future of Cannock Chase District.

The Council is consulting from Friday 19 March until Friday 30 April 2021 on the Cannock Chase Local Plan Preferred Option and accompanying Sustainability Appraisal.

A £5 million countywide package of support programmes for small businesses and apprentices has been launched through a partnership of Councils’ in Staffordshire, involving Cannock Chase Council.

The Council’s Cabinet approved to allocate funds from the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) fund to participate in this initiative being led by Staffordshire County Council, to support additional skills and training initiatives across the District in their meeting on 4 March.

A free online awareness session is being offered to parents, carers and guardians across Cannock Chase District to highlight the warning signs of criminal exploitation.

The Council’s Community Safety Team has commissioned Loudmouth Education & Training to deliver two virtual sessions which will focus on county lines, knife crime and criminal exploitation.

Cannock Chase Council officers are busy preparing for the elections on Thursday 6 May.   

Elections will be held across 13 Cannock Chase District Council wards, 6 Staffordshire County Council divisions (7 seats), and for the Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. There is also a by-election for a seat on Rugeley Town Council.

Candidates and their agents for the District and County Council elections are being invited to a virtual briefing via Zoom on Tuesday 16 March at 5pm.

Safety will be paramount throughout the election period.

The Council’s Cabinet have agreed to the allocation of S106 monies to the value of £22,877 for cycle storage and CCTV facilities in Market Street in Hednesford.

The S106 monies are linked to previous agreements with Tesco and Aldi.

At its meeting yesterday, Cabinet approved a new Local Development Scheme (LDS) for the next three years, which informs residents and stakeholders of each stage of the Local Plan review and opportunities to participate. At the same meeting the Cannock Chase Local Plan Preferred Option was also approved for consultation.