The Council

Cannock Chase Council is calling on friends and relatives of those shielding across the District to be aware of the upcoming changes to the national shielding service.

The UK Government has set out a roadmap for the clinically extremely vulnerable on the future of the shielding programme.  Recently, government has advised that those shielding can spend time outdoors, if they wish, with their own household, or if they live alone with another household. Following this, and alongside current scientific and medical advice the UK Government is planning to relax shielding guidance in stages. 

From 6 July, the guidance changed so people shielding can now meet in groups of up to six people from outside their household – outdoors with social distancing. If a person lives alone (or are a lone adult with dependent children under 18), they will now be able to form a support bubble with another household.

As part of this, the government has confirmed the shielding support package will remain in place until the end of July. After this, weekly food parcel deliveries will stop.

The government is sharing details with supermarkets of people who are in the Shielding and Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) group and have registered for support getting food.

To be included on the database that is shared with supermarkets in England, people must be in the CEV group and register a need for support by 17 July. If people want an online delivery slot, they must answer ‘no’ to the question asking if they have a way of getting essential supplies delivered at the moment. All questions on the form need to be completed in order for individuals details to be shared with supermarkets. The form is available by visiting www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable

From 1 August shielding will pause. While people will no longer need to shield, and are advised that they will be able to visit shops and places of worship, they should continue maintaining rigorous social distancing.

Ongoing support is still available from the following local community voluntary organisations; Cannock Foodbank, Rugeley Foodbank, Chase Coronavirus Support Network, Heath Hayes and Wimblebury Support Group and the Salvation Army.  Support includes help with food shopping, collecting prescriptions and befriending services. Information about other organisations providing support is available from Support Staffordshire.

The NHS will maintain the Shielded Patient List to ensure that they continue to provide the best advice to those identified as clinically extremely vulnerable. Should the level of the disease in the community rise in the future, it may be necessary to advise that more restrictive measures should be taken in order for those at highest risk to keep themselves safe.

NHS Volunteer Responders will also continue to offer support to those who need it, including collecting and delivering food and medicines.

The NHS Volunteer Responders Scheme has been expanded to offer a new Check in and Chat Plus role. This new role has been designed to provide peer support and companionship to people who are shielding as they adapt to a more normal way of life.  

If you are or know someone who is vulnerable or at risk and needs help with shopping, medication or other essential supplies, please call 0808 196 3646 (8am to 8pm). 

The updated shielding guidance should not affect any social care or support people were receiving prior to the start of shielding. 

Councillor George Adamson, Leader of Cannock Chase Council, said: “Cannock Chase Council is committed to supporting local people, community groups and voluntary sector organisations to respond to those who have specific support needs and requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Shielding was introduced to safeguard those who, at the start of the epidemic, were thought to be most clinically vulnerable in our communities. We know how difficult this period has been and the impact shielding has had on many people’s mental health.

“The prevalence of the virus in the community is now lower and chances of getting infected are reduced, which is why the government believes it is the right time to relax some of the advice so people can start to regain a degree of normality once more in their daily lives”.

To find out more about the changes to the shielding programme visit www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/coronavirus

Following risk assessments and signage being installed on all Council owned play areas and outdoor gym equipment, the Council are set to re-open these areas to residents and families safely.

Council officers will be removing any tape from play areas and outdoor gym equipment and will be installing safety signage for all users on all Council owned play areas during the course of Thursday and Friday and all will be open by Saturday 11 July.

Signage advises that users must maintain social distancing at all times and encourages parents to bring hand sanitiser with them and to use this oftem as equipment will not be disinfected or sanitised regularly.

Councillor Christine Mitchell, Portfolio Leader for Culture and Sport said “I am delighted that all play areas and outdoor gym equipment are to re-open this week after risk assessments have been completed.

“New signage will be installed on all of our play areas and outdoor gym sites and advice given to users will ensure that the equipment is safe for everyone to use.  I’m sure there are lots of children in the District who will be over the moon to use the play areas and if parents follow the simple instructions provided, use hand sanitiser regularly and wipe down equipment before and after use, they will reduce the risk of any infection and stay safe.”

Toilet facilities located at our main parks will not be open until the Council is satisfied that it can be done safely.  Officers are working on the risk assessment and procedures and the toilets will re-open when it is safe to do so.

With lockdown measures lifting from Saturday we are urging residents and visitors to the District to act responsibly and heed to government advice on social distancing.

This Saturday (4 July) will see many pubs, restaurants and cafés welcoming customers back as government restrictions ease and they are able to open again as long as they have measures in place to ensure social distancing and reduce the spread of infection.

Council officers from Environmental Health Food and Safety and Licensing teams have been extremely busy over the last few weeks making sure that non-essential shops were ready to open on 15 June and now pubs, restaurants and cafés on 4 July.  Officers have been visiting premises, offering advice and support during these unprecedented times and supporting the government guidance of ‘five steps to safer working together’ which businesses are displaying in their windows to let members of the public know they are COVID secure.

Councillor Gordon Alcott, Portfolio Leader for Town Centre Regeneration said “With government restrictions easing we are slowing seeing our town centres come back to life and are finally getting the local economy moving again.

“It’s good to see so many businesses in the District open and adapting their premises so social distancing can take place and everyone stays safe. 

“Our officers have worked really hard supporting businesses and helping them to understand and implement the government’s guidelines to ensure that they can stay open.”

Councillor Christine Martin, Portfolio Leader for Health and Wellbeing said “Saturday will see the opening of pubs, restaurants and cafés across the District.  Our officers have been visiting premises to ensure that they are safe to open.

“I know that a lot of people are looking forward to going out for a meal or a drink but they must remember that the virus is still out there.  I would urge anyone going out this weekend to be sensible, remember that businesses will be restricting the number of people on their premises at any one time and will ask for your name and a contact number.  Make sure you plan where you are going, make sure you’ve booked if you need to do so and think about how you are going to get home if you’ve had a drink.  Remember face coverings on public transport including taxis are mandatory.  You need to think about the health and safety of those around you, not just yours and if you are suffering from any symptoms, please stay at home.

“We want everyone to enjoy themselves but act responsibly, stay safe, stay alert and remember we are still in a pandemic.”

Despite the government announcement on 23 June, to re-open play areas and outdoor gym equipment, Council owned playgrounds in the District will remain closed until all risk assessments have been completed and measures and signage have been put in place to re-open safely.

A full risk assessment of playgrounds and green gym equipment needs to take place to ensure that they are COVID secure and as safe as possible for families to use.

Councillor Christine Mitchell, Portfolio Leader for Culture and Sport said “Although the government announced on 23 June that playgrounds and green gym equipment could re-open on 4 July, the actual guidance was only published last Friday.  Officers have been reviewing the detail contained in this, to ensure that the risks to our families and users of our play and outdoor gym equipment are minimised as much as possible before we re-open.

“New signage will be designed and installed to all our 50 or so play areas and 3 outdoor gym sites.  We recognise that our residents and families will want to use our play areas and gym equipment as soon as they can, but we hope that they will be patient and appreciate our cautious approach. The safety of our residents is paramount and we will not open these outdoor facilities until it is safe to do so.” 

A number of Council owned roller shutter doors in Cannock Town Centre are due to be transformed into works of art this summer, as part of a range of environmental improvements in and around the town centre.

The Council is working with a professional spray artist to produce pieces of art on 14 shutters, including seven opposite St. Luke’s Church and seven on vacant shops by the Beecroft Road subway underpass.

The Council is now seeking ideas and images from local community groups which reflect the local area that could be incorporated into the final designs. Ideas need to be sent to communications@cannockchasedc.gov.uk by no later than Friday 24 July.

The professional artist will use these ideas to come up with the overall design theme for each shutter. 

In February, the Council’s Cabinet approved to spend £94,000 on environmental improvements in Cannock Town Centre.

Other improvements include a comprehensive painting scheme, improving the exterior of appearance of the Prince of Wales Theatre and updating display cabinets around the town.

The Council aims for the town centre improvements to be completed to coincide with the opening of McArthurGlen Designer Outlet West Midlands in autumn 2020, with the exception of the Prince of Wales Theatre. This will take longer to complete due to planning permission and obtaining necessary consents.

Councillor Gordon Alcott, Leader for Town Centre Regeneration, said: “This will be an exciting project and it is hoped the new artworks will improve the ambience of the town centre.

“We want to make sure that the existing town centre looks as welcoming as it can, with a predicted growth of 3 to 4 million visitors per annum due to visit the new Designer Outlet Village. We are hoping a large proportion of these visitors will come to the town centre and see what is on offer locally”.

For more information about this project, contact Angela Haynes, Town Centre Partnership Officer on 01543 464338 or email angelahaynes@cannockchasedc.gov.uk.  

People living, visiting and shopping in Cannock Chase District are being encouraged to take part in local celebrations on Sunday 5 July to mark the 72^nd birthday of the NHS.

Cannock Chase Council has joined forces with Chase Arts for Public Spaces (CHAPS) and Cannock Town Centre Partnership to provide two creative challenges for people to take part in whilst visiting Cannock Town Centre. These include a story trail amongst local shops and a ribbon rainbow consisting of thank you messages displayed on the bandstand near St. Luke’s Church.  

A selection of shops – 10 in total, will be participating in a special NHS story trail for families to get involved in. These shops will display artworks created by children on a specific NHS theme to remind us of the number of services the NHS provides and what we can access.

Cannock Shopping Centre will also be displaying artworks during the celebrations.   

Artwork templates are available to collect from the following shops:

• The Engraving Company, Market Place
• Greetings from the Heart, High Green Shopping Centre
• Vodafone, Market Street
• Phillip Howard Opticians, Market Place
• Centre Flowers, Shopping Centre 
• Broome Meadow Bakes, Shopping Centre
• Chatwin Jewellers, Shopping Centre
• Mim’s Mom’s Newhall, High Green
• Beardsmore Lighting, Mill Street
• Hannah’s Artisan Cafe & Coffee Shop, Market Place

Participating shops will also be handing out coloured ribbon from 30 June for customers to take away and write messages of thanks or share personal memories. These ribbons will be tied on to the bandstand near St Luke’s Church by 3 and 4 July, when volunteers will be on hand to assist. The rainbow of ribbons will be on display for two weeks.

Local shops have also been invited to decorate their windows to celebrate the NHS. Displays will be on show from 4 July until 17 July.

Images will also be projected onto various buildings within the town centre on Saturday 4 July depicting scenes which pay tribute to the NHS. NHS flags will also be flown from buildings and on the bowling green.

In addition to this, the Council is also working with local community groups who have come together to provide a display for parks across the District.

To support the national celebration of the 72nd birthday of the NHS and as a mark of respect for all those who have lost their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, displays will be on show at Cannock Stadium Park, Hednesford Town Centre (around the clock), Hednesford Park, Elmore Park, Ravenhill Park , Norton Canes Recreation Ground/Church Street Recreation Ground in Norton Canes, Heath Hayes Park and Cannock Park.

This project has been supported by the 'Building Resilient Families and Communities' funding project that The Friends of Hednesford Park gained through Staffordshire County Council. If you would like to add a personal message to someone you have lost during the COVID outbreak, please contact Lynn Evans, Community and Education Officer at Cannock Chase Council who will pass the message onto the relevant organisation. Call 07855 099353 or email: lynnevans@cannockchasedc.gov.uk.

Councillor George Adamson, Leader of the Council said: “These unprecedented times have enabled new innovative ways of working and created more effective community partnerships to support people during lockdown. These projects will bring the people across the District together to honour and celebrate the work of those on the frontline as well as remembering those that have sadly lost loved ones during the COVID outbreak.

“The artworks will provide colourful displays around Cannock Town Centre and our local parks and it is hoped they will encourage people to visit the town centre and parks to see what the community has created”.

“I would urge anyone who is taking part or coming along to see the displays to follow the current COVID guidance set out my government.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to personally thank the many volunteers who have been involved behind the scenes to make this happen across the District”.

Mike Mellor, President of CHAPS and Vice Chair of Cannock Town Centre Partnership, said: “I'm delighted to be part of this celebration to honour all of those who work in, or have worked in, the NHS. Like other community organisations, CHAPS and the Town Centre Partnership encourage the people of Cannock to join in with this initiative to show their appreciation for all the NHS has done for us all. We're all looking forward to seeing the children's pictures, the banners and the rainbow of ribbons!

“We hope everyone will join in with the rest of the country on Sunday 5 July at 5pm to produce the biggest and loudest clap for the NHS”.

Kelvin Stephens, Chair of The Friends of Hednesford Park, said: “This project is a fantastic way to celebrate the achievements of the NHS over the last 75 years and also during the current pandemic, where they have gone above and beyond.  It will also remember those who have lost loved ones during this time.  We are privileged to be part of such an amazing community, who has come together during lockdown to support each other”. 

For further information about these projects or to download a template for the artworks visit www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/nhsbirthday

Work has started on phase one of the new cemetery for residents living in the Cannock Chase District.

The cemetery located on Hednesford Road in Norton Canes will provide local access to burial facilities for at least the next 25 years.

Phase one of the works will cost £1.4m and represents a major capital investment for the Council.  These works, which are expected to take up to the end of December 2020, have been split into four key elements:

1        Civils contract (Groundworks/earthworks/drainage/roads/pathways/street furniture and concrete runners)  

2        Reception building (Staff welfare/storage/public toilets and reception room)

3        Landscape works (Tree / shrub planting and grass seeding

4        Services provision. (Electric/water/CCTV and sewerage)

Councillor George Adamson, Leader of the Council said “There is a lack of burial space in the southern part of the District and Cannock cemetery has been closed to new burials since April 2006.  The Council has been searching for many years to establish a new cemetery that would serve the burial requirements of the residents in this part of the District. 

“This cemetery once complete will compliment the crematorium being developed by Horizon Cremation Limited and will provide local residents facilities to bury their loved ones locally.  It’s is brilliant news that work has now started. It's taken a long time to find the right site but this is a beautiful location.”

A new campaign addressing extremism and radicalisation was launched in schools across Cannock Chase District in January and has been extremely successful in raising awareness of extremism and the wider Prevent agenda.

The Council’s Community Safety Team commissioned Loudmouth Education & Training to create and deliver a brand new theatre in education programme on extremism to students in Year 8 and 9. The programme consisted of a 30 minute piece of interactive drama which was followed by workshops. The workshops used the drama to encourage further discussions in a safe environment.

To date, Loudmouth has delivered the education programme to six secondary schools, Chaselea Pupil Referral Unit and two primary schools – engaging with over 800 young people during the process.

As part of the programme, a sample of students were asked to complete a pre and post survey to help the Council measure the effectiveness of the campaign.

The aim of the campaign was to ensure young people had an increased awareness and understanding of what extremism is and the wider Prevent agenda as well as encouraging people to report their concerns and make a referral to the relevant agency.

The results of the feedback showed that the percentage of students who knew what the term extremism meant increased from 25% to 88% as a result of the Loudmouth session.

The percentage of students who felt confident or very confident about spotting signs of extremism also increased from 41% to 88% as a result of the Loudmouth session.

The percentage of students who knew where you could report extremism increased from 38% to 94% as a result of the Loudmouth session.

Most importantly the percentage of students who said they would tell someone if they thought their friend was involved in extremism increased from 79% to 93%.

Students stated that they felt that Loudmouth’s session helped raise young people’s awareness of different forms of extremism.

In addition to the sessions, resource packs have also been distributed to all primary and secondary schools providing information about local support services, details about the Prevent agenda and campaign material.

Campaign messages are continuing to be promoted via the Council’s social media platforms and refuse vehicles during the COVID outbreak. Vinyl adverts are also due to be fitted to the Council’s housing vehicles in the coming months.

A tailored package for South Staffordshire College is now being developed with Loudmouth and will be rolled out later in the year.

The campaign has been funded by the Staffordshire Commissioner’s Proceeds of Crime Fund, Staffordshire County Council’s Building Resilient Families and Communities Fund and the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Prevent Targeted Initiative Fund.

This forms part of the Council’s wider safeguarding campaign. ‘See something, Say something’, which was launched last year and aims to encourage people to report any concerns they may have about an individual or group.

Councillor Alan Pearson, Leader for Crime and Partnerships, said: “The Council is committed to ensuring people are aware of the signs of extremism and the associated factors as well as making sure people report any concerns they may have about an individual or group.

“It is fantastic to see that this campaign has had an impact on the students and teaching staff and has helped raise the profile of the Prevent agenda and extremism.

“If you have concerns about someone becoming involved in extremism, report it by calling 01785 232054”.

Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime, Matthew Ellis said: “Through the Proceeds of Crime Act, police are able to seize the ill-gotten gains of criminals and use them to make a real difference to our communities.

“I allocated money from the fund to support this important educational resource, and the results really do speak for themselves. It’s great to see the way the young people have responded to this campaign, with an increased awareness of extremism, and the confidence to seek help if they have any concerns in the future.”

Eleanor Vale, Company Director of Loudmouth Education & Training “We were thrilled with the responses from the pupils and staff to our new theatre in education programme on extremism. The pupils related so well to the main character in the drama and as a result talked openly and sensitively on what can be seen as a difficult topic. The evaluation results show that the drama and workshop really made them think more deeply about the repercussions of extremist actions and how they want to behave in the future.”

Gill Heath, Cabinet Member for Communities at Staffordshire County Council said: “Keeping young people safe remains a key priority for the county council and we continue to work closely with our partners to build resilience within schools.  It’s really encouraging news that the workshops are going down so well with the pupils.  Not only is the project helping to raise awareness of the dangers of radicalisation but it’s also giving them the information and tools to keep themselves safe.”

Sergeant Calum Forsyth, Prevent Coordinator from Staffordshire Police, said: “We are always looking for new and innovative ways in engaging young people and to get them thinking about the issues that can affect them. This project has been exciting to work with from its inception through to delivery and we are happy to have been a part of it”.

For further information about this campaign contact the Community Safety team on 01543 464387 or visit www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/safeguarding

Council’s Cabinet has approved leisure concessions for another year, for members of the Armed Forces who live in Cannock Chase.

The scheme which has been running since 2012, is run by Inspiring healthy lifestyles on behalf of Cannock Chase Council

The scheme includes use of fitness suites, swimming pools and participation in various group activities and fitness classes at Chase and Rugeley Leisure Centres.

The concession scheme was first introduced in June 2012 and currently has 89 members, 52 are registered at Chase Leisure Centre and 37 are registered at Rugeley Leisure Centre.

Councillor Christine Mitchell, Portfolio Leader for Culture and Sport said “I am really pleased that Cabinet has approved this scheme for a further 12 months.  Although our leisure centres are closed at the present time, due to the coronavirus pandemic, they will re-open when it is safe to do so and the relevant safety precautions have been put in place.  After many weeks of lockdown exercising will become more important than ever.”

Applicants are required to apply for a Lifestyle Membership Card, provide proof of residency and proof that they are a member of the Armed Forces

The scheme will be reviewed again in 12 months time.

On Monday 22 June the Council will be raising the Armed Forces Flag at the civic centre offices to mark the beginning of Armed Forces Week.  Armed Forces Week is an opportunity for the nation to show their support and appreciation for the contributions made by those who serve or have served.  It culminates with Armed Forces Day on Saturday 27 June.  Due to the coronavirus outbreak there will be no event this year.