The Council

Cannock Chase Council is asking local people to get involved with future development decisions and have their say in a consultation on a new Local Plan.

The Local Plan covers at least a fifteen year period and determines what sort of development is needed for the future, for example; homes, businesses and shops, how much development is needed and where it should go.  It also sets a clear policy for protecting and improving the local environment and delivering local infrastructure.

The Council is keen to hear views on the big issues which a new local plan should be dealing with and how we should be dealing with these issues.  Views are being sought on a range of issues and on the options for dealing with those issues, including the levels of development needed in the District and where that development should go. 

A number of other documents are being consulted on at the same time: a Sustainability Appraisal and evidence related to infrastructure requirements, housing and economic development needs.  This is all needed to inform the emerging local plan.

Dean Piper, Head of Economic Prosperity said “There has been a major shake-up of the planning system on a national level.  We have had to start work on a new local plan to reflect this and to deal with the future needs of the District. We need local people to tell us what the big planning issues are in their community so we can look at ways of addressing these as we move forward. The policies in our new Local Plan will eventually help us to determine individual planning applications so it is important we get this right.”

The consultation runs from Monday 13 May until Monday 8 July.  You can view all documents and find further information on how to respond to the consultation on the Council’s website at: www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/planningpolicy where comments forms can be downloaded.

There are also a number of drop in events as detailed below where you can speak with Council officers.  They will be the same so it doesn’t matter which one you attend.

Lynette Willdigg, from Cannock, was ordered to pay the fine by Newcastle Magistrates Court after discarding two cigarette ends on the car park at B&M and McDonalds, in Cannock.

On 17 September 2018, Ms Willdigg was witnessed littering two cigarette ends by two Enforcement Officers. Ms Willdigg was offered the opportunity to avoid court proceedings, by paying a Fixed Penalty of £75 – reduced to £50 if paid within ten days. Ms Willdigg failed to pay and as a consequence was prosecuted by the Council.

Ms Willdigg was found guilty by the Court and was fined £220, a victim surcharge of £30 and ordered to pay costs of £80.

Mike Walker, Cannock Chase Council’s Environmental Protection Manager said “If Ms Willdigg had paid the Fixed Penalty she would have avoided court proceedings and a criminal record which could have lifetime consequences.

“Even small items such as cigarette ends are litter and anyone caught dropping them can expect to receive a Fixed Penalty Notice in the first instance, with repeat offenders being likely to face prosecution.”

Each year the Council removes and disposes of 245 tonnes of waste from the streets of the district, much of it in the form of takeaway packaging and cigarette-related items, at a cost of £135,000 to Council tax payers.

Cannock Chase Council is committed to improving the environment for local communities, businesses and visitors to the area. Officers regularly undertake patrols across the district in an effort to tackle those responsible for littering and dog fouling.

Incidents can be reported by contacting the Council on 01543 462621, by emailing environmentalhealth@cannockchaseDC.gov.uk or via the website.

Cannock Chase Council have halved their staff car park off Brunswick Road and re-developed it into a public pay and display car park.

The car park named Rear Civic Centre (Brunswick Road) car park has 115 pay and display parking spaces with an additional 15 free spaces for disabled badge holders.

Construction work on the new pay and display car park was completed ahead of schedule and was opened to the public on Wednesday 1 May.

Long and short stay parking is available with charges as detailed below.  The car park is free between 6:30pm and 07:30am and all day on Sunday’s and bank holidays.

0-2 hours    £1.20

2-3 hours    £3.00

3-4 hours    £4.00

4-5 hours    £5.00

5-6 hours    £6.00

Up to 24 hours     £7.00

Tony McGovern, Managing Director at Cannock Chase Council said “There has been a commitment from Cannock Chase Council to provide Cannock Chase Hospital with additional parking for some time.  We are pleased that the car park work has completed ahead of schedule and is now open to the public.  We hope that patrons of the hospital will find it a more convenient place to park, as it is closer to the hospital entrance.  It is available for both long and short stay with charges set at similar levels to nearby public car parks.”

Two tenants have recently been evicted from their Council homes by Cannock Chase Council after making their neighbours’ lives a misery.

A Council tenant from Devon Road, Cannock was convicted on 22 August last year for drug related offences for ‘possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply’. Based on these offences which occurred at the Council property, Cannock Chase Council sought possession at Walsall County Court and the eviction was subsequently carried out on 31 January.

The tenant was required to pay costs totaling £1,834.40.

The Council also received a catalogue of complaints from residents in Kelly Avenue in Rugeley about a Council tenant and visitors at the Council property causing persistent noise, shouting and verbal abuse while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. A warrant was executed and the tenant was evicted on 7 March. The tenant was required to pay costs of £1,057.74. The District judge also awarded costs to the Council of £432.

Cannock Chase Council Neighbourhoods Team has a zero-tolerance approach to

Anti-social behaviour and works closely with Staffordshire Police to tackle it. Where there is enough evidence, legal action will be taken and tenants are taken to court. In both of these cases the Council believes it has achieved the right outcomes.

Councillor Alan Pearson, Housing Portfolio Leader said: “We have so many good tenants; it's a shame the few bad ones make life unbearable for their neighbours and communities through their Anti-social behaviour.”

Photograph:

Councillor Alan Pearson, Housing Portfolio Leader, Cannock Chase Council.

Cannock Chase Council has submitted a bid for government funding to assist with the regeneration of Cannock Town Centre. 

The Future High Streets Fund provides co-funding towards capital projects to bring transformative change to the local area and make town centres fit for the future.  The Government has made £675m available and has invited local authorities to submit expressions of interest to outline their plans.

Cannock Chase Council has bid for funding to help deliver the vision for the future of Cannock Town Centre and to maximise the benefits from the £160m investment from McArthurGlen for the Designer Outlet Village, due to open in 2020.

The expression of interest was submitted this week, applications will be assessed and successful applicants will be announced in summer 2019.

Councillor Diane Todd, Portfolio Leader for Town Centre Regeneration said “Our vision for Cannock Town Centre is that by 2028 it will be an attractive market town with an excellent range of well-known stores and good quality outdoor markets, thriving independent sector and the growth of new leisure and residential opportunities

“The Government’s Future High Street Funding is an excellent opportunity for us to get help from the government to achieve our vision and Cannock Town Centre is where we feel we can achieve the greatest impact. 

I am delighted that we have received letters of support from our partners and thanks to our officers for their hard work in applying for the funding.  Fingers crossed we will be successful.”

Cannock Chase Council is working with the Chase Community Partnership and the Enterprise for Success programme to support the local economy by offering support and grants to help new businesses get up and running.

Grants of up to £1,500 are available and are match funded by 50% to help individuals that have an idea for a sustainable business which over time has the potential to develop and create jobs. The grants are open to Cannock Chase residents that will be setting up or have recently set up a business in the District.

Applicants must have completed the FREE 12 hours of support available from the Enterprise for Success programme.  The workshops are run regularly in Cannock Chase and nearby Districts and cover important topics such as business structure, business planning, managing finances and marketing.

To be eligible you must have been trading 6 months or less, businesses that have been trading longer than 6 months may be able to apply for up to £5,000 to expand their business and take on new staff using the Lets Grow Grant.

Councillor Gordon Alcott, Portfolio Leader for Economic Development and Planning said “This grant scheme is an excellent example of how Cannock Chase Council is working with Chase Community Partnership to support enterprise in the District. The aim is that the businesses that are awarded either grant will prosper and create jobs.”

For further information or to check eligibility for Let’s Get Started grants, Enterprise for Success programme, Let’s Grow Grant and other support available for new and existing business in Cannock Chase contact the Economic Development Team on 01543 464272 or email econdev@cannockchasedc.gov.uk

Councillors from Cannock Chase Council  took a tour of the new look Chase Leisure Centre in Cannock on Monday prior to it being fully opened to the public in 12 days time following a major refurbishment.

The £1M development of Chase Leisure Centre will be complete and opened on Saturday 30 March and it is promising to be a hit with fitness fans.

Refurbishments, which have been taking place in phases since last November, will soon be complete with a host of new workout opportunities including immersive cycling.

The latest and final phase has seen the development of brand new, multi-use functional spaces which will be able to host a variety of classes and events along with the introduction of a state of the art cycle studio.

The new cycle studio will feature Les Mills ‘The Trip’, an immersive indoor cycling experience which creates a digital world in front of you while you cycle; bringing a workout that is breath taking in more ways than one.

A new functional zone will include a fixed functional rig, accessories and cardio equipment to support high intensity small group training.

Classes will include Battle Fit as well as being the new venue for the Les Mills GRIT series.

Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles (Ihl) manages the leisure centre on behalf of the Council.

Ihl Director Pete Burt said: “We are always looking to innovate and to bring exciting new products to our leisure centres. The latest development at Chase epitomises this. We are eager to see the new cycle studio and functional zone in action.”

Councillor Gordon Alcott, Deputy Leader of Cannock Chase Council said: “We are delighted that Inspiring healthy lifestyles is continuing to invest in Chase Leisure Centre alongside the Council, following our multi-million pound upgrade in 2012.

“Having the brand-new cycle studio, upgrades to other studios, new equipment and the introduction of new classes, has certainly taken to a new level the centre’s offer to residents which will help our community lead healthy and active lives.

“It’s particularly fitting that we now have the state of the art Les Mill The Trip as our District gears up to hosting mountain biking at the Commonwealth Games in a few years’ time.”

Earlier this year the new gym opened with Technogym kit including the SKILLROW, SKILLBIKE, SKILLRUN, SKILLMILL and stair climbers. A new Tanita machine was also installed to bring centre members fast, accurate body composition results. A Kinesis Core Station and brand new Olympic half rack and platform completed the transformation.

Photograph:

Pictured are councillors with staff from Cannock Chase Council and Inspiring healthy lifestyles in front of the video wall in the cycle studio prior to the installation of the cycles.

A 21 year old man from Walsall has been successfully prosecuted, following a large amount of waste being dumped in Little Wyrley.

On 12 March 2019 Bradley McDonald from Walsall pleaded guilty to a duty of care offence under the Environmental Protection Act at Newcastle-Under-Lyme Magistrates Court.

Mr McDonald was fined £230 and ordered to pay costs of £708.75 as well as a victim surcharge of £30, totaling £968.75.

Evidence found in the dumped waste led Officers to Bradley McDonald in July 2018. Mr McDonald claimed that he had paid ‘a man with a van’ to remove the waste from his property. However, Mr McDonald did not have any details of the man who removed the waste for him, he therefore did not fulfil his duty of care.

Householders have a duty to ensure that the person that they are paying to remove their waste is a registered waste carrier. Householders should ask to see a copy of the person’s waste carriers licence, or phone the Environment Agency to check, on 08708 506 506.

Never allow anyone to take rubbish who only gives a mobile phone number in an advertisement or knocks on the door and offers a service.

The Council now has new powers which enable Officers to issue fixed penalty notices for Householder Duty of Care offences, in appropriate circumstances and offenders will find themselves facing a penalty of at least £200.

Councillor John Preece, Portfolio Leader for Environment said “I would urge everyone in the District to be the Council’s eyes and ears and to report any fly tipping to us. We are determined to stamp out fly tipping, which is a blight on our communities and our countryside. But we do need the public’s help on this. This case demonstrates that, when we have the evidence, we will be rigorous in getting a prosecution.”

The Council is also continuing to offer a £100 reward to anyone who provides evidence that leads to the successful conviction of any person, business or other organisation involved in fly tipping waste in the District.

Anyone who witnesses fly tipping in the District is urged to report it to Cannock Chase Council by calling 01543 462621. Key information to pass on includes:

• The date and time of the incident
• The model, make, registration number and colour of any vehicle used
• A description of the offender or offenders

Local children and representatives from the Forest of Mercia CIC/Community Groups/Schools and St Peters Church have come together to plant approximately 800 saplings at The Stadium on Pye Green Road in Cannock, to benefit the local community.

The Forest of Mercia CIC gained funding through DEFRA to plant the saplings with local primary school children and provide an educational session on the importance of trees to our environment.

This project is an additional part of Phase 1 of the works at The Stadium, to work with the local community and local schools.  The work this week has seen local school children plant approximately 800 saplings which will grow to make a natural hedge that will act as a wildlife haven.

Representatives from St Peters Church of England Primary School, Redhill School, Redhill PTFA and The Friends of Cannock Stadium attended to help plant the saplings.

Councillor Christine Mitchell Culture and Sport Portfolio Holder: said “Working with the Forest of Mercia CIC, local schools, Churches and Friends will not only bring benefits to the users of the facility but it is also educational for our youngsters to take part in the re-development of the Stadium site by planting for future generations”.

It has been a priority to bring The Stadium back into community use.”

The Stadium was officially opened in September 2018 following a £1.3 million investment.  The site now boasts an adventure play area, BMX pump track, footpaths, with measured and lit running routes, green gym equipment, new entrance gates and fencing, CCTV cameras and community allotments with allotment building.  This is in addition to the works already undertaken to add a mini and toddler play area and multi-use games area, which were opened in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

The Stadium offers many opportunities through our leisure provider, Inspiring healthy lifestyles, who organise regular walking and running groups, an inclusive cycling hub, with adapted cycles for all abilities and help residents make the most of the community allotments with regular allotment days.