This week’s news from around South Staffordshire Council.

• #GE2019

The deadline to register to vote in the UK Parliamentary general election on Thursday 12 December 2019 has now passed.

Click here for more information about voting in person. If you are registered to vote, you will be posted a poll card before the general election and the location of your polling station will be on the poll card. You can still vote even if you do not have a poll card, as long as you are on the electoral register.

Click here to find out more details about using your postal vote. Voters who have opted to vote by post must return their postal ballot pack in good time so it arrives by 10pm on polling day. If you don’t have time to return it by post, you can hand it in at your polling station too.

Click here to find out more about voting by proxy, getting someone else to vote for you. The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday 4 December 2019. To apply for a proxy vote, you have to complete a form and give a reason why you can’t get to your polling station in person.

• Home alone at Christmas? Come and join us!

Celebrate Christmas at our annual Christmas lunch for retired residents of the district who are over the age of 60 and don’t have any family or friends visiting them on Christmas Day. This year’s event takes place at the Catering Academy at the Council Offices in Codsall on Friday 20 December 2019 from 12 midday. Places are free but must be booked and are limited to 50 people so early application is recommended. To book a place, please contact:

Victoria Wilson     Tel: 07592 883270      Email: v.wilson2@sstaffs.gov.uk

Val Chapman        Tel: 07718 911367      Email: val.chapman3@btinternet.com

• Affordable Housing and Housing Mix SPD 2019 – consultation

Consultation is underway on an update to the Council’s Affordable Housing and Housing Mix Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). This update will reflect recent changes to national policy on affordable housing and other matters and will strengthen the Council’s position when negotiating on housing sites that come forward in the District. The consultation closes at 5pm on 12 December 2019. We will then consider any comments received and make any required changes to the SPD, with a view to it being adopted by the Council by the end of March 2020. For more information, click here. 

• Interactive Local Plan map and Local Plan Consultation

Consultation continues on the Council’s Local Plan, which is focused on broad locations for housing growth and the infrastructure required to deliver the growth. This consultation is not site specific but looks at seven different options to deliver housing. Click here for more information and to find out how you can participate in the consultation, which runs until 5pm on Thursday 12 December 2019.

Click here to access the online interactive Local Plan map which shows Local Plan designations, including Green Belt, and other layers such as parish and ward boundaries, and locality areas. This useful tool allows you to zoom in and out and see what policies affect the whole of the district. You can also see areas of open space and sites that have been suggested to the Council for development. 

• Fuel Poverty Awareness Day – Friday 29 November 2019

Did you know there are 4,300 homes in South Staffordshire – that’s 1 in 10 households – that can’t afford to cover the cost of heating and powering their home? We need your help to find these people and make them aware of the help we can provide through the Council’s Good Life Energy scheme. This will get them the very best energy deals to make living in a warm home affordable. To refer a friend, click here www.sstaffs.gov.uk/energy and complete the call back form or call 03333 058671.

• Bulb planting events

A big thank you to all the volunteers who came along to Sytch Lane and Strawberry Lane cemeteries last week and took part in our bulb planting events. Thank you again to High Flyers from Wombourne, volunteers from the Wombourne Best Kept Village group and our other helpers and we look forward to seeing the cemeteries full of colour next spring. Click here to see some pics and keep an eye out for other community events coming up at our cemeteries. 

• Leisure Centres – bring a friend for free and earn rewards

From Monday 25 November to Sunday 1 December 2019, members at the Council’s four Leisure Centres in Codsall, Cheslyn Hay, Penkridge and Wombourne can bring a friend for free, giving them access to the gyms, exercise classes, swimming pools and toning suites for 1 week.  Members can refer up to a maximum of three friends. To refer a friend, simply accompany them to your nearest Leisure Centre and complete the referral form at reception. 

• All we want for Christmas is YOU!

You can see that our Leisure Centre staff are getting in the Christmas mood a bit early (click here and here) but they’re eager to shout about the special offer running in the Council’s Leisure Centres this December allowing people to join at any time during December and only pay an initial payment of just £10, then nothing more until 1 February 2020. This gives new joiners the month of January for free. To find out more, email leisure@sstaffs.gov.uk.  

• Community Lottery Christmas bonanza giveaway

Live music, panto tickets, afternoon cream tea and 10 free lottery plays – some of the prizes the South Staffordshire Community Lottery is giving away in its Christmas Bonanza Giveaway. Buy a £1 lottery ticket to be in with the chance of winning. As well as supporting a good cause you might even win a cash prize ranging from £25 up to a jackpot of £25,000.To buy a lottery ticket, visit www.southstaffslottery.co.uk or telephone 01902 213777. 

• Job vacancies
• ICT Support Officer (fixed term) – click here for more information.

Closing date – Friday 6 December 2019 (5pm).

• Corporate Director – Planning and Infrastructure – click here for more information.

Closing date – Sunday 8 December 2019 (5pm). 

• Festive events coming up

• Bilbrook Light Switch On – Bilbrook Village Green – Friday 29 November 2019, 6pm. Click here for details.
• Wombourne Parish Council Christmas Light Switch On – Friday 29 November 2019, 5.30pm to 6pm. Click here for details.
• Christmas Fair – Codsall Village Centre – Friday 6 December 2019, 4pm to 8pm. Click here for more information.
• Wombourne Parish Council – Robin Hood The Pantomime – Saturday 7 December 2019, 6.15pm. Click here for details.
• Penn Festive Fair at St Bart’s Community Church Hall – Sunday 15 December 2019, 1pm to 4pm. Click here for details.

• South Staffordshire Connect service now available

The South Staffordshire Connect dial-a-ride bus service is now available.

This local, bookable bus service is once again helping many people

who struggle to get out and about and it is aimed at residents who live

away from regular bus routes or who find it difficult to use a standard

bus. The new Connect service operates between 10am and 3pm to

three zones. For more information, please click on the following for

more information – Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3.

Everyone is encouraged to submit news items, please email: comms@sstaffs.gov.uk

South Staffordshire Community Lottery gift cards

Looking for a little inspiration for a Secret Santa or Christmas stocking filler?

Why not purchase a Community Lottery Gift Card and give someone the chance of winning weekly cash prizes, including the jackpot of £25,000.

Gift cards start from as little as £5 and 60% from your donation goes to support good causes, charities and community groups in South Staffordshire.

Click here to purchase your card today.

To buy a lottery ticket, simply register on the website (www.southstaffslottery.co.uk) or telephone 01902 213777.

Leisure Centres – bring a friend for free and earn rewards

From Monday 25 November to Sunday 1 December 2019, members at the Council’s four Leisure Centres in Codsall, Cheslyn Hay, Penkridge and Wombourne can bring a friend for free, giving them access to the gyms, exercise classes, swimming pools and toning suites for 1 week.

Members can refer up to a maximum of three friends. To refer a friend, simply accompany them to your nearest Leisure Centre and complete the referral form at reception.

Join in December for just £10 and pay nothing until 1st February 2020

The special offer running in the Council’s Leisure Centres this December allowing people to join at any time during December and only pay an initial payment of just £10, then nothing more until 1 February 2020. This gives new joiners the month of January for free. To find out more, email leisure@sstaffs.gov.uk.

Home alone at Christmas or know anyone who is?

Join South Staffordshire Council on Friday 20th December for a free Christmas meal. 

Celebrate Christmas at their annual Christmas lunch for retired residents of the district who are over the age of 60 and don’t have any family or friends visiting them on Christmas Day.

This year’s event takes place at the Catering Academy at the Council Offices in Codsall on Friday 20 December 2019 from 12 midday.

Places are free but must be booked and are limited to 50 people so early application is recommended. To book a place, please contact:

Val Chapman        Tel: 07718 911367      Email: val.chapman3@btinternet.com

This weeks news from South Staffordshire Council

• #GE2019 – Your Vote Matters

As we know there is a General Election on Thursday 12 December 2019 and the deadline for voters to register is Tuesday 26 November 2019, with postal vote applications also required by Tuesday 26 November 2019 and proxy vote applications by Wednesday 4 December 2019.

Poll and postal poll cards are now beginning to be sent out so if you’ve registered to vote, you should receive your poll card in the next few days.

To vote in a general election your name must be on the electoral register. You can register to vote online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and it usually takes about five minutes. You will need to confirm your name, address, date of birth and national insurance number. Remember, you only need to register once – not for every election – but if you’re not sure if you’ve already registered, please contact the local electoral registration office at South Staffordshire Council (tel: 01902 696121 or email: elections@sstaffs.gov.uk).

You’re eligible to register to vote in elections if you are:

• Aged 16 or over (however, you can only vote when you become 18).
• A UK citizen (or an Irish, EU or Commonwealth citizen with a permanent UK address).

There are three different ways that you can vote:

• In person at a polling station.
• By post.
• By proxy (someone voting on your behalf).

• Home alone at Christmas? Come and join us!

Celebrate Christmas at our annual Christmas lunch for retired residents of the district who are over the age of 60 and don’t have any family or friends visiting them on Christmas Day. This year’s event takes place at the Catering Academy at the Council Offices in Codsall on Friday 20 December 2019 from 12 midday. Places are free but must be booked and are limited to 50 people so early application is recommended. To book a place, please contact:

Val Chapman        Tel: 07718 911367      Email: val.chapman3@btinternet.com

• Remembrance Day Service and two minute silence

On Monday, a Service of Remembrance was held at the Council Offices in Codsall, officiated by the Chairman’s Chaplain, the Reverend Morris Price. The service was attended by the Deputy Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Colonel Christopher Comport, Parish Chairmen, District Councillors, Council staff and representatives from the Royal British Legion, Codsall Middle School and Codsall High School. Following the two minute silence, poppy wreaths were laid under the commemorative plaque. Click here to see more.

• Community safety update – #OpLightning

On Wednesday, Operation Lightning struck again when the South Staffordshire neighbourhood policing team carried out a road safety and traffic operation in Locality 5 of the district between 8am and 1pm. Locality 5 includes Wombourne, Swindon, Trysull and Himley and officers deploying a mixture of marked and unmarked police vehicles patrolled outside schools and conducted speed checks and checked over 100 vehicles, making sure they were all road worthy and legal. As a result, officers seized three vehicles and four people were reported to court for not having insurance. One person was reported for not having an MOT and four motorists were warned for minor traffic offences.

• Local Plan Consultation and Interactive Local Plan map

Consultation continues on the second stage of the Council’s Local Plan, which is focused on broad locations for housing growth and the infrastructure required to deliver the growth. This consultation is not site specific but looks at seven different options to deliver housing to meet South Staffordshire own housing needs and a contribution towards unmet housing need in the wider region. Click here for more information and to find out how you can participate in the consultation, which runs until 5pm on Thursday 12 December 2019.

Click here to access the online interactive Local Plan map which shows Local Plan designations, including Green Belt, and other layers such as parish and ward boundaries, and locality areas.

• Leisure Centres – bring a friend for free and earn rewards

From Monday 25 November to Sunday 1 December 2019, members at the Council’s four Leisure Centres in Codsall, Cheslyn Hay, Penkridge and Wombourne can bring a friend for free, giving them access to the gyms, exercise classes, swimming pools and toning suites for 1 week.  Members can refer up to a maximum of three friends. To refer a friend, simply accompany them to your nearest Leisure Centre and complete the referral form at reception.

• All we want for Christmas is YOU!

You can see that our Leisure Centre staff are getting in the Christmas mood a bit early (click here and here) but they’re eager to shout about the special offer running in the Council’s Leisure Centres this December allowing people to join at any time during December and only pay an initial payment of just £10, then nothing more until 1 February 2020. This gives new joiners the month of January for free. To find out more, email leisure@sstaffs.gov.uk.

• Lifeguard and swimming teacher courses

Wombourne Leisure Centre is holding a National Pool Lifeguard Course during the February school holiday next year. The course is taking place from Monday 17 to Friday 21 February with the exam being held on Saturday 22 February 2020. Candidates must be 16 years+ and competent swimmers. There are also swimming teacher courses running at the Leisure Centres in Codsall and Cheslyn Hay. For more details about our courses, visit https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/leisure/south-staffordshire-training-academy.cfm or call your nearest Leisure Centre.

• South Staffordshire Community Lottery gift cards

Looking for a little inspiration for a Secret Santa or Christmas stocking filler? Why not purchase a Community Lottery Gift Card and give someone the chance of winning weekly cash prizes, including the jackpot of £25,000. Gift cards start from as little as £5 and 60% from your donation goes to support good causes, charities and community groups in South Staffordshire. Click here to purchase your card today. To buy a lottery ticket, simply register on the website (www.southstaffslottery.co.uk) or telephone 01902 213777.

• Bulb planting events next week

Come along and help plant some spring flowering bulbs at Strawberry Lane Cemetery in Great Wyrley and Sytch Lane Cemetery in Wombourne.

• Sytch Lane Cemetery – Monday 18 November 2019 between 1.30pm and 3.30pm.
• Strawberry Lane Cemetery – Friday 22 November 2019 between 1.30pm and 3.30pm.

Click here and here for more information or contact our Bereavement Services team for more information on 01902 696111.

• Energy switch surgery every Thursday

If you’d like help switching your energy supplier, the Good Life Energy team will be visiting the Council Offices every Thursday between 10am and 1pm. You can book an appointment with the team on Freephone 03333 058671 or turn up with a recent energy bill on the day. For more information, visit www.sstaffs.gov.uk/energy.

• Free event at The Lydiate Room

Interested in gardening and want to know more? Join us for a free talk by BBC Radio WM’s Laughing Gardener Darren Rudge and Helen Wood from Rudge Wood Horticulture at the Lydiate Room at Baggeridge Country Park on Sunday 17 November 2019 from 11am to 12.30pm. Donations in aid of Compton Care. Click here for more information.

• Festive events coming up

• Christmas Fair – Codsall Village Centre – Friday 6 December 2019, 4pm to 8pm. Click here for more information.
• Christmas shopping fair at Himley Hall – Saturday 16 to Sunday 17 November 2019, 10.30am to 5pm. Click here for details.
• Wombourne Parish Council Christmas Light Switch On – Friday 29 November 2019, 5.30pm to 6pm. Click here for details.
• Wombourne Parish Council – Robin Hood The Pantomime – Saturday 7 December 2019, 6.15pm. Click here for details.
• Penn Festive Fair at St Bart’s Community Church Hall – Sunday 15 December 2019, 1pm to 4pm. Click here for details.

• Next week’s Council committee/panel meetings
• Planning Committee – Tuesday, 19 November 2019 – 6.30pm – Council Chamber.

Click here to view the agenda.

• Job vacancies
• Relief Swimming Instructor, Wombourne Leisure Centre – click here for more information.

Closing date – Sunday 17 November 2019 (5pm).

• Leisure Assistant, Wombourne Leisure Centre* – click here for more information.

Closing date – Monday 18 November 2019 (5pm). * Internal vacancy.

• Corporate Director – Planning and Infrastructure – click here for more information.

Closing date – Sunday 8 December 2019 (5pm).

• South Staffordshire Connect service now available

The South Staffordshire Connect dial-a-ride bus service is now available. This local, bookable bus service is once again helping many people who struggle to get out and about and it is aimed at residents who live away from regular bus routes or who find it difficult to use a standard bus. The new Connect service operates between 10am and 3pm to three zones. For more information, please click on the following for more information – Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3.

• Need to report a pothole?

Staffordshire County Council is responsible for highways maintenance and repairing potholes in South Staffordshire. Click here to report pothole damage and find out which roads are being worked on and which ones are scheduled for repair. Or report via the My Staffs App here.

• Traffic information

Temporary road closure – Suckling Green Lane, Codsall. Click here for more information.

• 5 Rating

The following organisations have achieved a 5 Rating following their food inspection this week – The Hinksford Arms in Hinksford and Mid Counties Co-op in Wombourne.

Everyone is encouraged to submit news items, please email: comms@sstaffs.gov.uk

Bulb planting events

Come along and help plant some spring flowering bulbs at Strawberry Lane Cemetery in Great Wyrley and Sytch Lane Cemetery in Wombourne.

• Sytch Lane Cemetery – Monday 18 November 2019 between 1.30pm and 3.30pm.

• Strawberry Lane Cemetery – Friday 22 November 2019 between 1.30pm and 3.30pm.

Click here and here for more information or contact our Bereavement Services team for more information on 01902 696111.

Local Plan Review – consultation underway

South Staffordshire Council is now consulting on the second stage of its Local Plan, which is focused on broad locations for housing growth and the infrastructure required to deliver the growth.

This consultation is not site specific but looks at seven different options to deliver housing to meet South Staffordshire own housing needs and a contribution towards unmet housing need in the wider region.

Click here for more information and to find out how you can participate in the consultation, which runs until 5pm on Thursday 12 December 2019.

Interactive Local Plan map

Last week South Staffordshire Council launched an online interactive Local Plan map (click here to access) showing Local Plan designations, including Green Belt, and other layers such as parish and ward boundaries, and locality areas.

This useful tool allows you to zoom in and out and see what policies affect the whole of the district. You can also see areas of open space and sites that have been suggested to the Council for development.

Consultation is still underway about the second stage of the Council’s Local Plan, which is focused on broad locations for housing growth and the infrastructure required to deliver the growth. This consultation is not site specific but looks at seven different options to deliver housing to meet South Staffordshire own housing needs and a contribution towards unmet housing need in the wider region.

Click here for more information and to find out how you can participate in the consultation, which runs until 5pm on Thursday 12 December 2019.

This week’s news from South Staffordshire Council 

• General Election

The country is heading to the polls once again on Thursday 12 December 2019 for a snap general election. The deadline for voters to register is Tuesday 26 November 2019, with postal vote applications also required by Tuesday 26 November 2019 and proxy vote applications by Wednesday 4 December 2019.

To vote in a general election your name must be on the electoral register. You can register to vote online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and it usually takes about five minutes. You will need to confirm your name, address, date of birth and national insurance number. Remember, you only need to register once – not for every election – but if you’re not sure if you’ve already registered, please contact the local electoral registration office at South Staffordshire Council (tel: 01902 696121 or email: elections@sstaffs.gov.uk).

You’re eligible to register to vote in elections if you are:

• Aged 16 or over (however, you can only vote when you become 18).
• A UK citizen (or an Irish, EU or Commonwealth citizen with a permanent UK address)
• There are three different ways that you can vote:

• In person at a polling station.
• By post.
• By proxy (someone voting on your behalf). 

• Business Hub welcomes new tenants and reaches full occupancy

The last remaining offices at both Jubilee House and the Council Offices in Codsall have now been let. New tenants Melissa Ray, who provides hypnotherapy, and Peter Smith-Round, who offers will writing and legal services, have now moved into Jubilee House, whilst Codsall Multi Academy Trust has moved into the Council Offices.

• Interactive Local Plan map

This week, the Council launched an online interactive Local Plan map (click here to access) showing Local Plan designations, including Green Belt, and other layers such as parish and ward boundaries, and locality areas. This useful tool allows you to zoom in and out and see what policies affect the whole of the district. You can also see areas of open space and sites that have been suggested to the Council for development.

Consultation is still underway about the second stage of the Council’s Local Plan, which is focused on broad locations for housing growth and the infrastructure required to deliver the growth. This consultation is not site specific but looks at seven different options to deliver housing to meet South Staffordshire own housing needs and a contribution towards unmet housing need in the wider region. Click here for more information and to find out how you can participate in the consultation, which runs until 5pm on Thursday 12 December 2019.

• Kinver recycling day success

This week the Council’s waste and recycling team and Biffa attended a community recycling day in Kinver to answer questions on all things recycling. Thank you to Kinver Sports and Community Association for hosting the event. Click here to see some pics taken on the day including some of the posters promoting recycling that were created by local children. 

• Community Lottery – five entertainment bundles to be won this Saturday

This Saturday, five lucky lottery players in the Community Lottery will win an amazing entertainment bundle including an Amazon Echo, Fire stick, Echo Dot and tablet. To be in with the chance of winning, purchase your lottery tickets before Saturday 2 November 2019 at www.southstaffslottery.co.uk or telephone 01902 213777. Good Luck!

Since the last good cause update back in May, the Community Lottery has welcomed 10 new good causes – Bishops Wood Village Hall, the Kaleidoscope Plus Group (this year’s Chairman’s Charity), the Albrighton Trust, AED Donate, Weston Park Foundation, Wolverhampton Youth Zone, Midlands Soccer Academy, Perton Girl Guiding, Old Tree Nursery and Bilbrook Juniors. 

• 2019 Enjoy Staffordshire Awards

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists in this year’s Enjoy Staffordshire and Good Food Awards, which celebrate Staffordshire’s best tourism and hospitality businesses and their valuable contribution to the growing tourism sector. Click here to view the results. The winners of 14 categories will now go on to represent Staffordshire at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, to be held in June 2020. 

• Cold weather warning

Now that we’re starting to experience cold, frosty mornings, remember not to leave your car unattended when defrosting it. Opportunist car thieves can take advantage and steal it so don’t leave keys in your vehicle and the engine running and make sure you stay with your car at all times. Police advice is to clear windscreens with de-icer and a scraper and sit in the vehicle while the heater de-mists the windscreen. Make sure your car is fully defrosted before setting off and allow extra time for your journey. Please take care on the icy roads and keep a safe distance of other cars. For more winter driving advice, click here. 

• Bulb planting events

Come along and help plant some spring flowering bulbs at Strawberry Lane Cemetery in Great Wyrley and Sytch Lane Cemetery in Wombourne.

• Sytch Lane Cemetery – Monday 18 November 2019 between 1.30pm and 3.30pm.
• Strawberry Lane Cemetery – Friday 22 November 2019 between 1.30pm and 3.30pm.

Click here and here for more information or contact our Bereavement Services team for more information on 01902 696111.

• Energy switch surgery every Thursday

If you’d like help switching your energy supplier, the Good Life Energy team will be visiting the Council Offices every Thursday between 10am and 1pm. You can book an appointment with the team on Freephone 03333 058671 or turn up with a recent energy bill on the day. For more information, visit www.sstaffs.gov.uk/energy. 

• Other events coming up

• Bilbrook Remembrance Sunday – Sunday 10 November 2019 from 9.50am. Click here for more information.
• Christmas Fair – Codsall Village Centre – Friday 6 December 2019, 4pm to 8pm. Click here for more information.
• Wombourne Parish Council – Robin Hood The Pantomime – Saturday 7 December 2019, 6.15pm. Click here for details. 

• Forest of Mercia – autumn and winter courses

Forest of Mercia CIC has a range of courses and activities coming up in November and December including willow basket making, family bushcraft, willow reindeer sculpture making and natural Christmas decoration making. Click here for more information or visit www.forestofmercia.com.

• Pumpkin rescue

Don’t throw your pumpkin in the bin now Halloween is over. Instead, try out some of these recipes from Hubbub and turn your pumpkin into something delicious like pumpkin houmous or Thai pumpkin curry. Click here for the recipes. 

• South Staffordshire Connect service now available

The South Staffordshire Connect dial-a-ride bus service is now available.

This local, bookable bus service is once again helping many people

who struggle to get out and about and it is aimed at residents who live

away from regular bus routes or who find it difficult to use a standard

bus. The new Connect service operates between 10am and 3pm to

three zones. For more information, please click on the following for

more information – Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3.

• Need to report a pothole?

Staffordshire County Council is responsible for highways maintenance and repairing potholes in South Staffordshire. Click here to report pothole damage and find out which roads are being worked on and which ones are scheduled for repair. Or report via the My Staffs App here. 

• Job vacancies
• Relief Badminton Instructor, Codsall Leisure Centre – click here for more information.

Closing date – Friday 1 November (5pm).

• Relief Leisure Assistant, Wombourne Leisure Centre – click here for more information.

Closing date – Monday 11 November 2019 (5pm).

• Relief Swimming Instructor, Wombourne Leisure Centre – click here for more information.

Closing date – Sunday 17 November 2019 (5pm).

Everyone is encouraged to submit news items, please email: comms@sstaffs.gov.uk

This week’s news from South Staffordshire Council

• District’s food hygiene ratings amongst the best

Local authorities are there to protect the safety of customers and staff and ensure that food establishments are preparing their food in a safe and hygienic way. Restaurants and takeaways are awarded a rating of 0 to 5 and recent figures from the Food Standards Agency show that hygiene levels in South Staffordshire are above standard with just 30 businesses (3%) scoring less than a 3 food hygiene rating. This compares with 18% in Walsall, 11% in Wolverhampton and 9% in Dudley. For more information, visit: https://ratings.food.gov.uk/authority-search-landing/en-GB/291

• ICT achieves PSN certification for 10^th year running

Well done to the ICT team, which has achieved Public Secure Network (PSN) compliance certification for another year.  This is the 10th year running that this has been achieved and the certificate was awarded by the Cabinet Office to the Council this week. Also this week, cyber security training was completed with the Members on Tuesday 1 October 2019. This included good practice advice on locking your screen when you move away from it, stronger password/phrases and links to agile working.

• Coming up – annual Parish Summit

The Council will be hosting its annual Parish Summit on Friday 11 October 2019 in the Council Chamber. This event aims to inform, engage, support and network with Councillors and you can see the agenda by clicking here. To confirm your attendance, please call 01902 696289 or email policyadmin@sstaffs.gov.uk along with your two workshop choices by Tuesday 8 October 2019.

• Carl becomes a Commonwealth Champion

Congratulations to Carl Holland for taking gold at the 2019 Commonwealth Judo Championships, which took place last week. Carl, who works at Codsall Leisure Centre and is a Leisure Assistant teaching swimming lessons and judo, competed in the veteran under 60kg category. Click here to see a pic.

• Events coming up
• Good Life Energy Switch Surgery – Thursday 10 October 2019 – 10am to 1pm – Foyer. 

• Health and care update

Following its 12-week public conversation about health and care across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, the Together We’re Better partnership is holding a series of workshops to evaluate a list of potential solutions to the problems identified during the listening exercise.

The dates for the workshops are:

• Thursday 24 October 2019 from 1pm to 5pm, Port Vale Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent.
• Monday 28 October 2019 from midday to 4pm, George Hotel, Lichfield.
• Wednesday 30 October 2019 from midday to 4pm, Entrust, Stafford.

Click here for more information and to register. Registration will close on 16 October 2019. 

• Community Safety update – locality police engagement meetings

Chief Inspector Mark Ward and Helen Marshall, the Council’s Community Safety Officer (h.marshall@sstaffs.gov.uk), will be present at the next series of police engagement meetings, which take place in each locality twice a year. The purpose is to give an opportunity to all Parishes and elected Members from within the locality to meet and discuss issues relating to crime and disorder in their locality. Meetings are for Parish Councillors and District Members and they take place from 5pm to 7pm.

• Locality 3 – Wednesday 9 October 2019 – Council Chamber, Essington Community Centre.
• Locality 4 – Wednesday 23 October 2019 – Codsall Parish Chambers.
• Locality 5 – Wednesday 30 October 2019 – Swindon Community Centre. 

• Community safety update

As part of the Rural and Wildlife Crime Week of Action, specialist officers at Staffordshire Police will be holding an online chat on Monday 7 October 2019 at 7pm. This is an opportunity to ask any questions to the officers relating to your rural community and the chat is open to the whole of Staffordshire. To join the chat, follow this link and type your questions. 

• Free Brexit training course for local businesses

The Council in partnership with Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce is providing a free workshop about trading successfully across borders and how to get your business ‘Brexit ready’. This free workshop will take place on Thursday 10 October 2019 from 10am to 4pm at the

Council Offices in Codsall. Click here for more information and click here to book a place. 

• Get ready for Brexit

The Government has launched a public information

campaign ‘Get ready for Brexit’, which sets out what all

members of the public and business owners need to know.

Visit the Council website (click here) and find out more

at www.gov.uk/brexit. 

• Annual Canvass 2019

Canvassers are now out in the district to chase up any

outstanding Household Enquiry Forms. If you haven’t

returned your form, please spare a couple of minutes to

complete it with them. Every year, we are required to write

to households in the district to confirm that the details we have

on the electoral register are correct. It is a legal requirement to respond to this letter and it’s quick and easy to reply – you can do this online or by telephoning, texting or signing the form and sending it back. Click here for more information. We have to follow up any non-responding households so please help us save money by responding quickly.

• Courses coming up this autumn

Forest of Mercia CIC has got a range of courses and activities coming up this autumn including witches broomstick making, willow basket making, family bushcraft, willow reindeer sculpture making and natural Christmas decoration making. Booking is essential. Click here for more information or visit the Forest of Mercia website for prices.

www.forestofmercia.com

Or why now join Community Forest Services on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 November at Jubilee Wood in Bilbrook for a course in ‘Forest Bathing’. The cost of the two day course is £20 per person and booking is essential. Click here for more information. 

• Energy switch surgery every Thursday

If you’d like help switching your energy supplier, the Good Life Energy team will be visiting the Council Offices every Thursday between 10am and 1pm. You can book an appointment with the team on Freephone 03333 058671 or turn up with a recent energy bill on the day. For more information, visit www.sstaffs.gov.uk/energy.

• Funding now available to help you heat your home

For a limited time, householders and tenants in South Staffordshire can benefit from being connected to mains gas along with a new gas-fired central heating system all installed free of charge (subject to eligibility). The scheme is funded using the Warm Homes Fund, established by National Grid to support local authorities, registered social landlords and other organisations working in partnership with them, to address some of the issues affecting fuel poor households. South Staffordshire Council is working with Staffordshire County Council, E.On and Affordable Warmth Solutions to help fund and successful deliver this scheme locally and ensure households can afford to heat their homes.

Click here to view our first installation case study in Perton. For more information, call freephone 0800 193 1902 or email advice@mea.org.uk.

www.staffordshirewarmerhomes.co.uk

• Events coming up
• Perton Library is celebrating Staffordshire History Festival with a family-friendly open day – Saturday 5 October 2019. 11am to 4pm.
• Apple Day – Forest of Mercia – Sunday 20 October 2019, 11am to 3pm. Click here for more information.

• South Staffordshire Connect service now available

The South Staffordshire Connect dial-a-ride bus service is now available.

This local, bookable bus service is once again helping many people

who struggle to get out and about and it is aimed at residents who live

away from regular bus routes or who find it difficult to use a standard

bus. The new Connect service operates between 10am and 3pm to

three zones. For more information, please click on the following for

more information – Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3.

• Having a clear out?

The Council can help you get rid of your bulky waste items including sofas, beds, wardrobes and white goods such as fridges, freezers and washing machines. Click here to book online 24/7. Unwanted household items can also be re-used or donated via a series of charities and forums including the British Heart Foundation, Acorns Children’s Hospice, the Furniture Re-use Network and others. Click here for more information. 

• Together we win!

Good causes in South Staffordshire need your support and one way you can help is by buying a lottery ticket in our weekly Community Lottery. As well as supporting a good cause you might even win a cash prize ranging from £25 up to a jackpot of £25,000. To buy a lottery ticket, simply register on the website (www.southstaffslottery.co.uk) or telephone 01902 213777. 

Regular information

• Committee/Panel meetings

Next week, the following meetings are scheduled:

• Cabinet – Tuesday 8 October – 2pm – Committee Room 2.
• Personal Development Review and Appointments Panel – Wednesday 9 October – 2pm – Committee Room 2.
• Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Thursday 10 October – 6.30pm – Council Chamber.
• Personal Development Review and Appointments Panel – Thursday 10 October – 9.30am Committee Room 2.

• 5 Rating

The following organisations have achieved a 5 Rating following their food inspection this week – Village Pizza in Penkridge, the Swan Inn in Whiston near Penkridge, The Curry Inn in Brewood and Bridge Inn in Brewood. 

Everyone is encouraged to submit news items, please email: comms@sstaffs.gov.uk

September Leisure Centre Membership Offer

Get #BackToIt with our special Leisure Centre membership offer this September. Join between Monday 9 and Monday 30 September 2019 and you could get up to three months free as part of our #BackToIt promotion (terms and conditions apply).

There’s something for everyone in our Leisure Centres including swimming pools, fully equipped gyms, exercise class programmes and toning suites. The Council runs four Leisure Centres in Cheslyn Hay, Codsall, Penkridge and Wombourne and they offer everything you need to get fit, stay motivated and on track to a fitter and healthier you. For more information about this promotion, please contact your local Leisure Centre.

Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre    Tel: 01922 417790

Codsall Leisure Centre            Tel: 01902 844032

Penkridge Leisure Centre       Tel: 01785 714152

Wombourne Leisure Centre   Tel: 01902 898202

Email: leisure@sstaffs.gov.uk

www.sstaffs.gov.uk/leisure