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Weekly News 264

Council and district news

Council job vacancies

South Staffordshire Council named a ‘net zero leader’

South Staffordshire Council has been described as ‘leading the way’ in getting set for a low carbon future by a major UK energy distribution firm.

Named a ‘net zero leader’ by Western Power Distribution, the authority is running the South Staffordshire Climate Change Festival throughout 2022 to promote awareness of climate change to communities and residents.

The festival also includes the Climate Prize, which earlier this year offered grants of up to £200 to community groups, schools and micro-businesses for projects helping to tackle climate change.

South Staffordshire Council has also been keenly involved in a number of tree-planting activities over the last 18 months; planting 2,000 trees in Perton and Bilbrook so far this year, and 1,500 trees last year in Perton, Bilbrook and Great Wyrley.

Read more here

The Hub Cafe: Opening soon

We are delighted to announce that the Hub Café is due to open to the public from Tuesday, May 3.

A soft opening will take place from Wednesday, April 27, for staff and tenants.

Things are now starting to take shape in the new café, with logos and sign writing, the arrival of a salad cart and a barista coffee machine.

Waste and Recycling

Blue recycling bags

In May 2022, we will be providing households with a new blue bag for their paper and card recycling. The blue bin will continue to be used for glass, cans and plastics.

Due to changes in the recycling market in recent years, we now need to produce higher quality recycling, which means keeping the paper and card away from other materials.

The bag is sturdy and weighted to prevent it blowing away and has a lid to stop waste escaping.

Each household will receive one bag to begin with, but households who produce more card and paper can request an extra bag if they find it’s not large enough.

Some properties including flats and communal properties will not receive bags.

For more information on the changes, including FAQs, please visit: www.sstaffs.gov.uk/bluebag 

Bin collection calendars: 2022-2023

This year’s bin collection calendars are now available to download online: https://bit.ly/3JERsIA 

The calendar includes important information about changes to the service and an update on putting the right waste, in the right place.

Printed calendars will be delivered to all households in May 2022.

Two lottery winners scoop £250 wins

In this week’s lottery draw we had not one but two £250 lottery winners.

Many congratulations to Mrs W from Wombourne and Mrs B from Coven.

Fancy your chances of winning £25,000? Play today from a little as £1 a week.

A total of 60% from each ticket sale goes directly to local good causes and charities.

Click here to play

Bilbrook Neighbourhood Plan Survey

Bilbrook Parish Council and the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee are asking village residents of all ages to speak up over the coming weeks regarding what about Bilbrook is important to them.

Bilbrook residents should have now received a paper copy of the Neighbourhood Plan survey with the latest edition of the Bilbrook Buzz Newsletter, however they may prefer to complete the survey online: https://tinyurl.com/BilbrookNPSurvey

Residents completing the survey can enter a prize draw, and one lucky winner will win £100.

The survey will help to gather evidence and rationale to propose a Neighbourhood Plan for development in the parish up to 2040.

  

Have your say: Planned solar farm

Low Carbon is introducing proposals for a new solar farm co-located with battery storage, on land south of Holyhead Road, Albrighton, to be known as Pepperhill Solar Farm.

The solar project will be sited within the parish of Boningale.

  • The company is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, April 27, at 7.30pm. Register your details on the website below to attend.
  • They are also hosting an in-person consultation on Wednesday, May 4, from 2.30 – 7.30pm. It is taking place at The Kingswood Trust Holyhead Rd, Perton, Wolverhampton WV7 3AP.

Submit your feedback via the website: www.pepperhillsolarfarm.co.uk

Other contact details:

Email: info@pepperhillsolarfarm.co.uk

Freephone information line: 0800 082 0906 (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm)

Postal address: Freepost LOW CARBON UK SOLAR DEVELOPMENT

Please note the deadline for the submission of feedback is Monday, May 16, 2022.

Leisure latest

Online and on-demand exercise classes

South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centres provide a range of live and on-demand exercise classes with over 30 sessions running every week.

The classes are free for leisure centre members to join; non-members can participate for a nominal fee.

Find out more at https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/leisure/online-exercise-classes-membership.cfm

Partnership updates

Staffordshire Police: Be stalking aware – the FOUR signs to look for

Staffordshire Police has listed the FOUR warning signs that can indicate someone may be stalking you:

Fixated: Being followed on your daily routine, spied on, or being watched.

Obsession: Being monitored on or offline, cyberstalking, the ordering and cancelling of items in your name.

Unwanted: Gifts being sent; unwanted messages, letters or phone calls. Even damage or graffiti being caused to your property.

Repeated: This can be any nuisance or threatening behaviour, being approached, accosted or bullied repeatedly.

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing this type of behaviour please reach out for help. To report stalking incidents, or to get advice, please contact Staffordshire Police by:

  • Sending a private message through the Staffordshire Police Facebook or Twitter social media pages
  • Reporting your issue on the Staffordshire Police website
  • Calling 101 (call 999 in an emergency situation)

For more information, click here

Staffordshire Connects consultation survey

Staffordshire Connects is an online health and social care community directory provided by Staffordshire County Council.

The website brings together:

  • Community services and groups for adults to access
  • Community services and groups for children and families including childcare services
  • Advice and information for families with children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities
  • Advice and information for care leavers

The website also provides information and training opportunities for adult social care providers as part of the care market development network.

To enable Staffordshire County Council to understand how effective and useful the website is, they want to get as many views as possible from people who might use the site or may have used the site in the past.

Access the survey here

 

Weekly News 263

Council and district news

Stay safe: 746 Covid cases in South Staffordshire

Covid has not gone away – and here in South Staffordshire we currently have 746 cases of coronavirus.

If you’re not fully protected, book an appointment or attend a drop-in centre for a vaccination.

It’s not too late to get your first vaccine.

For more information on how and where to get vaccinated, click here

Though there are now no legal restrictions, please continue do what you can to stay safe.

Remember: hands, face, space.

Nine new symptoms of Covid have now been added to the official NHS list, including shortness of breath and an aching body.

See the full NHS list here

Codsall Community Hub: Official opening event

Save the date! 

We are excited to announce the official Codsall Community Hub opening event will take place on July 23.

More details of the event will be released in the coming weeks, but be sure to keep your schedule free for a fun-filled day for all the family.

Virtual High Street

Shopping locally is now available online.

The Virtual High Street offers businesses a free online presence, enabling customers to access opening times and purchase items.

We encourage all local businesses to sign up to the service by clicking on the link below and selecting the relevant village.

So far, we have more than 40 businesses signed up, with the aim of having every high street business represented within the next few months.

For more information, see here

Delegation of taxi licensing services completed

The delegation of taxi licensing in South Staffordshire was officially handed over to City of Wolverhampton Council on Friday, April 1.

This is an excellent example of partnership working with a neighbouring local authority to share resources, benefiting from economies of scale to save the taxi trade’s time and money, while continuing to maintain public safety.

This is believed to be the first delegation of its kind and there has been a huge amount of work undertaken by officers at both councils, without whom such a smooth transition would not have been possible.

Council job vacancies

Leisure latest

Leisure centre refurbishments

South Staffordshire Council’s Leisure Service is pleased to announce that agreements are in place with three of our partner schools, and extensive refurbishment work is to be carried out at leisure centres during the financial year 2022/23.

The plans include complete refurbishment of the poolside changing rooms and work to the poolside at Wombourne Leisure Centre, with additional work planned for the reception and vending area; Penkridge Leisure Centre will undergo a complete refurbishment of the reception and vending area, including work to the staircase; Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre will include a total refurbishment and upgrade to the gym, in addition to refurbishment work on the entrance and pool areas.

Later this month, we will release further details to include start dates and timescales, and we intend to ensure minimal disruption to services during the works.

We will keep you updated and informed on progress and look forward to announcing when the work will start, later this month.

Wombourne Leisure Centre pool now open

Wombourne Leisure Centre’s pool has been temporarily closed for maintenance on the pool filters.

The pool is now open as normal.

Swim times can be found on the website at https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/leisure/swimming.cfm

  

Easter school holiday activity camps

Cheslyn Hay, Codsall, Penkridge and Wombourne leisure centres are providing daily activity camps for young people aged 5-14 throughout the Easter school holiday.

The camps are being delivered in conjunction with Aspire Sports who will be providing a variety of sports and health-related activities between April 11 and 22, from 8am-4pm each day.

Aspire provide early bird, sibling and emergency service discounts.

To find out more and to book, visit https://www.aspire-sports.co.uk/active-camps

As an added bonus, all bookings will also receive free leisure centre passes including junior and adult swim passes; gym passes; exercise class passes; and day passes.

Holiday Activities and Food Scheme

Families in receipt of free school meals are eligible for free activity camps and food during the Easter holiday.

The Holiday Activities and Food Scheme is a central government initiative and has been made possible thanks to funding from The Department for Education.

Registration for the Holiday Activities and Food Scheme is now open.

All eligible families will receive a letter from their school, and parents will need to register using their unique ‘HAF’ code.

For details visit https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Educational-awards-benefits/Holiday-activities-and-food/Holiday-Activities-and-Food.aspx

Wombourne Leisure Centre’s new 3G pitch now open

Wombourne Leisure Centre is delighted to have opened its new all-weather 3G sports pitch.

The project has been made possible thanks to a £800,000 investment by South Staffordshire Council, the Premier League, The FA, and the government through the Football Foundation.

The FIFA-accredited facility is located at the back of Wombourne Leisure Centre and provides shockpad flooring and floodlights – making it a great-quality pitch suitable for training and match standards. There are also newly-refurbished changing areas available in the leisure centre, which serve the users of the pitch.

To find out more, visit the website: https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/leisure/3g-pitches-3.cfm

Baggeridge Country Park: Easter activities

This Easter, Baggeridge Country Park has loads on offer for families to enjoy. 

The park offers:

  • Miniature railway (opening on Sunday, April 10)
  • Children’s outdoor play area
  • Challenge Academy high ropes adventure
  • Wellbeing instructor-led and independent walks and trails
  • Café, toilets and onsite parking.

Fore more information visit https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/leisure/baggeridge-country-park.cfm or follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Baggeridge/

Everything you need to know about your local leisure centres

Find out what’s on offer at your local leisure centres with this short guide which provides information about all of the available facilities and services.

Find out more here: https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/leisure/leisure-center-welcome-pack.cfm

Partnership updates

WhatsApp scam warning

Staffordshire Police is warning people to be vigilant to a WhatsApp scam using the lure of a ‘Cadbury Free Easter Chocolate Basket’.

The message has a link to a website which looks genuine – but is not. The police believe the site may be aimed at capturing personal and financial details in order to scam individuals out of money or for other fraudulent purposes.

  • It always pays to ‘Take Five’ if you are in receipt of messages like this. Ask yourself what is being ‘offered’ to you – is it ‘too good to be true’?
  • Always check credibility of offers like this using a reliable source, by visiting the official website directly and not in response to messages with links.

Aiming High

Boost your SEND child’s confidence and independence with free and fun activities.

Aiming High is a programme of activities and short breaks for children and young people aged 0-18 with a special educational need/disability (SEND) who live in Staffordshire. There is no requirement for an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to be in place.

The programme includes activities including music, dance, horse-riding, sensory experiences, day trips to the cinema with a meal out, forest and farm activities, plus much more.

To find out more, visit the Aiming High pages on the Staffordshire County Council website: www.staffordshire.gov.uk/aiminghigh

Community Matters Fund: Tackling loneliness

Western Power has teamed up with Localgiving to deliver its Community Matters Fund.

The scheme looks to support projects addressing loneliness and social isolation that fit within the following themes:

  • Delivering services to reduce loneliness and/or social isolation
  • Delivering services to improve mental health caused by loneliness and/or social isolation
  • Delivering educational activities focused on skills development and ongoing support to reduce loneliness and/or social isolation (e.g. digital skills, employability skills, life skills)
  • Innovative approaches to combat loneliness and/or social isolation and its associated impact on mental health.

The programme is now live and accepting applications until April 24.

For more information, click here

Healthy lifestyles services survey

Staffordshire County Council would like you to tell them about your thoughts on the county’s healthy lifestyles service in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

They’d like to know whether you feel the services currently on offer are helping support your health and wellbeing. And they would like your opinions on how the healthy lifestyle service could meet your needs in the future.

The survey should take about 10 minutes and the results will help to shape the service in the future, making sure it’s right for the needs of Staffordshire people.

Take the survey here – https://bit.ly/3JZBtpM

Weekly News 262

Council and district news

WATCH: South Staffordshire’s stunning high streets take centre stage in new video

To give businesses a much-needed boost in the wake of the pandemic, a new video has been launched to promote South Staffordshire’s stunning high streets.

> Watch the video here

The video, commissioned by South Staffordshire District Council, aims to encourage those living in the area to discover the many hidden gems on their doorstep, and those who are based further afield to come and explore South Staffordshire.

The council’s latest project shows the various village shopping destinations across the district – from the quaint, historic sites of Brewood, to the bustling streets of Penkridge.

Wombourne’s glistening waterways and one-off stores feature too; as well as Kinver’s  beautiful boutiques; the well-connected village of Codsall; as well as Cheslyn Hay and Great Wyrley.

See the full press release here

Council Tax Rebate

On February 3, the government announced measures to help protect millions of households from rising energy costs in 2022-2023.

These measures include a one-off £150 non-repayable rebate for households in England in council tax bands A – D, known as the Council Tax Rebate. This will be in the form of a payment of £150 per household and is not a reduction off your bill.

For more information on this, click here

Boundary Commission publishes final recommendations

The Boundary Commission has published final recommendations for changes in South
Staffordshire.

It says residents should be represented by 42 councillors. This is seven fewer than the current arrangements.

There will be 20 wards, five fewer than there are now.

Councillors will represent six three-councillor wards, 10 two-councillor wards and four one-councillor wards.

Only three wards will stay the same: Essington, Himley & Swindon and Huntington & Hatherton.

Publishing the recommendations Professor Colin Mellors, chairman of the Commission, said: “We are very grateful to people in South Staffordshire. We looked at all the views they gave us. They helped us improve our earlier proposals. We believe the new arrangements will guarantee electoral fairness while maintaining local ties.”

A total of 81 people and organisations made comments to help decide the new wards.

Changes in response to what local people said include changing the name of the proposed Blymhill & Brewood ward to Brewood, Coven & Blymhill.

The Commission has made further changes to its earlier proposals. Further details can be found on its website here   Parliament now needs to agree the changes. The new arrangements will then apply for the 2023 council elections.

New Waste and Recycling Collection Vehicles

We’ve had many good years out of our current fleet of waste and recycling collection vehicles and they have now reached the end of their operational life. We’re very excited that our brand new fleet of waste and recycling collection vehicles have started arriving this week.

If you spot them around, you may notice they look a little bit different to the old vehicles.  Our new recycling collection vehicles have three rear bin lifts, which tip into two separate storage areas in the back of the vehicle.  This design means we can collect two different type of recycling in the same vehicle, but keep the materials separate to produce great quality recycling.

Find out more about how we’ll be collecting your recycling from May: www.sstaffs.gov.uk/bluebag

Council job vacancies

Appeal to all former Littleton Colliery employees and their families

Huntington Parish Council is offering all former Littleton Colliery employees and their families the chance to commemorate their involvement in the nation’s rich mining heritage.

The Huntington Memorial Garden, located at the front of the Village Green, proudly displays a restored Colliery Headgear Winding Wheel, sitting on a plinth upon which two plaques note the names of the fallen of the two world wars. On each length of the plinth, a total of 400 inscribed blue bricks commemorate ex-employees of Littleton Colliery and their job roles at the site.

The Parish Council is looking to complete the two end sections of the plinth by adding a further 280 inscribed bricks and would like to hear from anybody with connections to the colliery that has not already obtained an inscribed brick.

This second phase of the scheme will be completed by the end of October and there are less than 100 bricks remaining.

The parish council is asking for a contribution of £32 towards each brick.

For more information, email parish clerk Lynn McClymont at lynnmcclymont@ntlworld.com

Leisure latest

Do you want a career in teaching swimming?

South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centres are running swimming teacher courses this Easter.

  • April 11 – 15: STA Level 2 Award in Swimming Teaching at Wombourne Leisure Centre – £295 (£70 no-refundable deposit). This is an initial course for those wishing to start a swimming teacher career.
  • April 19 – 22: STA Level 2 Certificate in Swimming Teaching at Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre – £295 (£70 non refundable deposit). This is a step-two course for those wishing to teach improvers and advanced classes.

Call to book:

Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre – 01922 417790

Wombourne Leisure Centre – 01902 898202

Wombourne Leisure Centre Swimming Pool update

Wombourne Leisure Centres swimming pool is temporarily closed this week whilst technicians carry out maintenance work on the pool filters.

Should the works progress as expected, it is anticipated that the pool will be back open for public use next week.

For updates, follow the leisure centre on Facebook.

  

Baggeridge Country Park

Baggeridge Country Park is now open daily until 8pm.

The park will also be open every day throughout Easter including Easter Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.

Easter school holiday activity camps

Cheslyn Hay, Codsall, Penkridge and Wombourne leisure centres are providing daily activity camps for young people aged 5-14 throughout the Easter school holiday.

The camps are being delivered in conjunction with Aspire Sports who will be providing a variety of sports and health-related activities between April 11 and 22, from 8am-4pm each day.

Aspire provide early bird, sibling and emergency service discounts.

To find out more and to book, visit https://www.aspire-sports.co.uk/active-camps

As an added bonus, all bookings will also receive free leisure centre passes including junior and adult swim passes; gym passes; exercise class passes; and day passes.

Holiday Activities and Food Scheme

Families in receipt of free school meals are eligible for free activity camps and food during the Easter holiday.

The Holiday Activities and Food Scheme is a central government initiative and has been made possible thanks to funding from The Department for Education.

Registration for the Holiday Activities and Food Scheme is now open.

All eligible families will receive a letter from their school, and parents will need to register using their unique ‘HAF’ code.

For details visit https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Educational-awards-benefits/Holiday-activities-and-food/Holiday-Activities-and-Food.aspx

Partnership updates

How do I wean safely?

How do I know when it’s time to wean?

When should my baby start solid foods?

How much food does my baby need?

Get all your weaning questions answered, plus easy recipes and top tips, at Start for Life.

Visit the Start for Life website via this link

  

Staffordshire Connects consultation survey

Staffordshire Connects is an online health and social care community directory provided by Staffordshire County Council. The website brings together:

  • Community services and groups for adults to access
  • Community services and groups for children and families including childcare services
  • Advice and information for families with children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities
  • Advice and information for care leavers

The website also provides information and training opportunities for adult social care providers as part of the care market development network.

To enable Staffordshire County Council to understand how effective and useful the website is, they want to get as many views as possible from people who might use the site or may have used the site in the past.

Access the survey here

Weekly News 258

 

This week’s news from around the council

Council/ Community Hub news

Watch the iESE Awards live online

The iESE awards ceremony – at which South Staffordshire Council is up for three awards – takes place in London on March 9.

This event will be live streamed, meaning everyone is able to tune into the occasion online from 9pm till 10.30pm via this link or on the iESE Facebook page.

Pattingham Tiny Forest

Pattingham Parish Council is involved with the planting of a Tiny Forest in partnership with Severn Trent and Earthwatch Europe in recognition of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Pattingham Daffodil Tiny Forest is being planted on Saturday, March 19, 2022 by St Chads First School, Pattingham.

This super tiny, super powerful forest is one of 72 being planted to celebrate the Games and to leave a lasting legacy, that will bring green spaces to urban areas across the West Midlands

Want to get involved?

Everyone is welcome. Adults can arrive from 8:30am to help move the trees, and children can join in the action and help plant the trees from 9:30am.

Dress for the weather and bring gardening gloves if you have them along with a packed lunch/snacks/drink.

Council job vacancies

Latest Codsall Community Hub tenants: Codsall Foot Care

This week we officially welcomed Codsall Foot Care into Codsall Community Hub.

They are situated on the ground floor in between the library and the GP surgery and offer a wide variety of foot care services for all the family.

  

Business Support Drop In Clinic: Grant funding, finance and more

Join the accredited general and specialist business advisors for a face-to-face business support drop-in clinic at Codsall Community Hub, run by the Stoke and Staffordshire Growth Hub in partnership with South Staffordshire Council.

Come along to express your interest and complete an application for up to £3,000 in grant funding.

The event takes place on March 7 between 10am and 2pm.

For more information, click here

Leisure latest

Codsall Leisure Centre: Temporary gym closure for refurb

Codsall Leisure Centre is delighted to announce that the gym is being fully refurbished next week.

The upgrade will take place between Wednesday, March 9, till Friday, March 11, and will involve a full closure of the gym facility.​​​​​​​

The leisure centre and other facility areas will remain open and operate as normal. The gym facility is scheduled to re-open on Saturday, March 12.

Please be aware that on Sunday, March 13, and Monday, March 14, the facility will remain open for use however electrical and connection work is planned therefore there may be some disruption.

To stay up-to-date with progress, follow Codsall Leisure Centre’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/codsall and subscribe for free to receive the latest news on progress at www.sstaffs.gov.uk/alerts

Red Nose Day: Join our walk

Our fabulous walk leaders are holding a group walk on Friday, March 18, at Baggeridge Country Park in aid of Red Nose Day to raise money for Comic Relief.

The steady-paced, short walk will take place between 10 and 11am. Participants are encouraged to wear a red nose or come in fancy dress if they wish to. Everyone is welcome.

We are not charging for parking, so all those that come to take part will be given a parking pass to display; we are however asking all those that come along to make a donation via our just giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/baggeridgerednosewalk

We are asking for a suggested donation of £2, however all donations (big or small) will be gratefully received.

To find out what your money does, visit https://www.comicrelief.com/what-your-money-does

Easter School holiday activity camps

Cheslyn Hay, Codsall, Penkridge and Wombourne leisure centres are providing daily activity camps for young people aged 5-14 throughout the Easter school holiday.

The camps are being delivered in conjunction with Aspire Sports who will be providing a variety of sports and health related activities between April 11 and 22, from 8am-4pm each day.

Aspire provide early bird, sibling and emergency service discounts.

To find out more and to book, visit https://www.aspire-sports.co.uk/active-camps

Baggeridge Wellbeing Walk and walk leader training

Baggeridge Country Park held their second monthly progressive walk on Tuesday which saw over 20 walkers turn up to take on a two-hour-plus walk.

Baggeridge also hold a weekly Wellbeing Walk every Thursday morning at 10am; the next monthly walk will be on Tuesday, April 5.

Details of the Walking programmes can be found at https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/leisure/good-life-health-fitness-in-the-community.cfm

The Wellbeing Walk co-ordinator is holding training for walk leaders later this month. If you would like to get involved and become a walk leader volunteer, contact Louise at louisewalkingforhealth@gmail.com

  

Harlequins Orienteering Club at Baggeridge Country Park

Join the Harlequins orienteering club at Baggeridge Country Park every Saturday, from March 5 to April 9, from 1 till 2.30pm.

For more information visit https://harlequins.org.uk/Baggeridge/ or call 07505 381666.

South Staffordshire Training Academy

South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centres provide a range of courses throughout the year enabling people to train up as lifeguards and swimming teachers.

The next available courses are detailed below. For more information and details on other courses, visit https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/leisure/south-staffordshire-training-academy.cfm

  • National Pool Lifeguard Course: Monday, April 11, to Saturday, April 16, at Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre.
  • Safety Award for Teachers: Wednesday, June 1, at Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre.
  • STA Level 2 Certificate in Swimming Teaching: Tuesday, April 19 to Friday, April 22, at Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre.

Partnership updates

Platinum Jubilee Celebrations

This year, Her Majesty The Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of service.

Applications to attend the Platinum Party at the Palace, to be held at Buckingham Palace on June 4, close on March 23 and can be submitted online. For event and ticket information, click here

The organisers of the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, taking place on the streets of London on June 5, have also announced a public competition for tickets. For more on the competition, click here

They have produced celebration pack of ideas to inspire communities across the UK to organise their own events that connect to the main Pageant. Find out more here

Birmingham 2022 Festival

The Birmingham 2022 Festival has announced its six-month long cultural programme taking place across Birmingham and the West Midlands. It will be the biggest celebration of creativity ever seen in the region and one of the largest ever cultural programmes to surround the Commonwealth Games.

There will be over 200 events including a spectacular open-air show, a brand-new Birmingham inspired album, an immersive 3D experience on public transport, photography exhibitions across billboards, a city centre forest of magical proportions, a mass tap-dancing extravaganza and much, much more.

With events running from March to September, the festival will put Birmingham and the West Midlands’ creativity, ambition, heritage and diversity on a global stage.

For more information, click here

You deserve the best care. They deserve to work without fear.

Every day last year, a staggering 32 ambulance staff were abused or attacked; more than one every hour of every day during the whole of last year, totalling 11,749 staff. This is an increase of 4,060 incidents over the last five years.

The most significant rise covered the initial period of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 when assaults jumped up by 23% compared with the year before.

County Lines crime

County Lines is the name given to drug dealing activity that often involves the exploitation of young, vulnerable people who are targeted and manipulated into selling drugs by organised criminal gangs.

Do you know how to spot the signs of County Lines?

  • A change in emotional wellbeing
  • Becoming isolated from friends and family
  • On the phone more than usual
  • Going missing from school or home
  • Splashing the cash and showing off new, unaffordable items
  • Carrying weapons
  • Unexplained injuries

For more information, support and advice, visit: https://www.staffordshire.police.uk/countylines

Weekly News 257

 

This week’s news from around the council

Council news

South Staffordshire Council shortlisted for UK Council of the Year award

We are delighted to announce we have been shortlisted for the iESE Awards for the Community Hub, and Locality+ Programme.

We have also received a Certificate of Excellence for our Wellbeing Programme and Local Plan Consultation.

iESE received just short of 300 nominations.

To top it all off, iESE has also put the council forward for UK Council of the Year, recognising the quality and range of work we are doing across our communities – this is a fabulous recognition of the great work we are doing.

iESE is a not-for-profit social enterprise, created by local authorities as a shared resource to transform public services and retain experience within the sector. The awards for which we have been shortlisted are the group’s Public Sector Transformation Awards.

Face masks cannot be recycled

Did you know…? Face masks cannot be recycled.

Face masks, test kits and other PPE must go in your grey bin.

See a video with more information here: https://youtu.be/Ep1olTLkAbov 

Not only can they not be recycled, but your blue bin contents are ‘hand sorted’ at the recycling site. PPE and test kits may be contaminated with harmful content that puts our staff at risk.

Keep our staff safe, dispose of your face masks in your grey bin.

Climate Prize: Deadline extended

Are you passionate about tackling climate change in South Staffordshire? Have you been thinking about ways to protect nature, reduce waste, improve air quality, prepare for flood events, or reduce your CO2 emissions?

Community groups, schools, micro-businesses and more can now apply for grant funding of up to £200 to deliver a local project as part of our Climate Change Festival.

Find out more via this link

Council job vacancies

Parliamentary Boundary Review

There is a review of Parliamentary boundaries currently taking place.

The public consultation runs from February 22 to April 4 and the Commission is inviting members of the public to view and comment on the proposals on the consultation website, bcereviews.org.uk, or send a letter or email.

The Commission is holding 32 public hearings across the country, where people can tell the Commission their views in person.

Partnership updates

Recognise the early symptoms of a heart attack

New data reveals only 27% of people know that feeling weak, lightheaded or
experiencing a feeling of general unease are symptoms of a heart attack.

Even if you’re unsure if you or somebody you’re with is having a heart attack, call 999
and describe your symptoms

It can be easy to dismiss the early signs of a heart attack but it’s never too early to call
999 and describe your symptoms. The faster you act, the better the chance of a
positive outcome.

NHS Food Scanner

Scan, swipe, and swap with the NHS Food Scanner app for lower sugar spoonfuls of yum.

Download it for free today via this link

Safe+Sound

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service broadcasts a weekly Safe+Sound programme for Key Stage 2 children focusing on safety, wellbeing and life-skills messages created by specialist partners.

Next Wednesday’s Safe+Sound programme topics are:

  • Railway Safety – Network Rail
  • Smoke Alarms – Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service
  • Online Safety (Fortnite) – Tamworth Borough Council
  • Anti-social Behaviour – Staffordshire Police
  • Wellbeing – Canal & River Trust
  • Woodland Workouts – Staffordshire Wildlife Trust

Find out more here

Air Aware Anti-Idling Campaign

Did you know if you sit in an idling vehicle during a 30 minute break to stay warm/cool you are contributing to 4,500 balloons of emissions?

Staffordshire County Council is on a mission to get as many businesses as possible in Staffordshire to sign up to be an anti-idling zone.

We can all make a difference to reduce the amount of pollution we produce, and this is just another small change.

Once signed up, they will send you your very own site kit to help you reduce air pollution.

Sign your workplace up today via this link

 

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This week’s news from around the council

Council news

Hub update

Practical completion

On Monday this week, Seddon officially handed us the building and external areas on time,
concluding Practical Completion. This means Codsall Community Hub is no longer a hard
hat zone and people can safely access everywhere on site.

While Seddon have handed over, we still have more work to do before the project as whole
is concluded.

This week, new signs will be full installed internally and externally. We have more furniture arriving throughout February and March. Street Scene will be finishing off the grounds with new trees, planting and turf.

We also have a large team of people from Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust taking occupation of the first floor above Russell House Surgery.

The facilities team will also continue working around the building, finishing off any snagging.

We will also look to fill some of the walls with artwork, celebrating South Staffordshire.

With so much going on over the coming months and more partners joining us, a team is now working on an official launch for this summer, more information on this will follow over the coming weeks.

Opening of Russell House Surgery

This weekend, final preparations are taking place re-locating Russell House Surgery into Codsall Community Hub – and on Monday, February 21, the surgery officially opens.

This means patients will be seen at the hub going forward in the new purpose-built surgery. This has been years in the planning, and we are delighted to say it’s opening on time, and we are very much looking forward to welcoming Russell House Surgery into the Hub.

Electric vehicle charging points

This week, 12 electric vehicle charge points went live on site.

Six are located adjacent to the library and six in disabled bays outside the car park entrance.

Over the coming months, 10 more will be installed in the barrier car park.

Over the coming weeks, four will be switched onto the public network, this will allow anyone visiting the building to also charge their vehicles.

For more information on how to use the charging points, click here

Council news

Council job vacancies

Leisure News

February half term activities at our leisure centres

Daily activity camps for kids

South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centres are providing daily activity camps next week as part of the February half term for young people aged 5-14 years.

For more information and to book activity camps, click on the links below:

Increased swimming programmes

The leisure centres will also be increasing their daytime swimming programmes.

Details can be found on the website via the links below:

February half term activities at Baggeridge Country Park
  • Baggeridge Adventures re-opens for public sessions from Saturday, February 19. Click here for more information
  • The outdoor children’s play area will be open to families with children under the age of 12, encouraging young people to get outside and connect with nature.
  • A weekly instructor-led Wellbeing Walk will be held on Thursday at 10am. Click here for more information
  • Maps of independent walking trails can be found by clicking here
  • A bird ringing demonstration is being held here at the park on Sunday, February 27, 8am-10am.

For more information about what’s on offer at Baggeridge, visit the website here

National Pool Lifeguard and Swimming Teacher Courses:  Last-minute places available

National Pool Lifeguard Course:

The courses are NPLQ-accredited and run from Monday, February 21, to Saturday, February 26, at Wombourne Leisure Centre. The cost of the course is £275, with a £70 non-refundable deposit.

To qualify, participants must be able to swim 100m on their back and front continuously, be able to jump or dive into the deep end of the pool, and be able to retrieve a manakin from the deepest part of the pool.

For more information on the courses, click here

To book, call Wombourne Leisure Centre on 01902 898202.

Swimming Teacher Course:

The courses run from February 21 to 25 and offer an STA Level 2 Award in Swimming Teaching.

The course costs £295, with a £70 non-refundable deposit, and takes place at Codsall Leisure Centre.

Candidates must become a member of the STA (for licence/insurance) and be over the age of 16 to undertake the course.

To book, call Codsall Leisure Centre on 01902 844032.

Partnership updates

Cervical screening saves lives

Two women die every day from cervical cancer in England. Yet it is one of the most preventable cancers and getting screened can help stop it before it starts.

Screening checks for certain types of the HPV virus that can cause cell changes to your cervix. Cell changes are easily treated and this prevents cervical cancer.

For more information, visit www.nhs.uk/cervicalscreening

Feeling unwell?

Feeling unwell? Tackle those symptoms as soon as they strike.

No need for a GP appointment that you may not require.

Having a well-stocked medicine cabinet will mean that you can fight minor illnesses.

Talk to a pharmacist for more advice.

Volunteer Star Awards

Is there a special volunteer or organisation you feel deserves to be recognised?

Local community and voluntary organisations as well as individuals are invited to nominate volunteers they feel deserve to be recognised for their continued efforts in supporting our local community.

Closing date for nominations is Friday, March 18, at 5pm.

To submit a nomination, click here

Freeze Food February

This month why not try freezing your leftover food?

Freezing food is a great way to save money as well as reducing your carbon footprint.

Eating fruit and veg that are in season is better for the environment too – as it reduces the number of miles it has to travel to get to your plate.

Find out more about freezing leftovers and seasonal produce here

 

 

Weekly News 255

 

This week’s news from around the council

Council news

Mini orchard planting

Many thanks to the Forest of Mercia for planting a mini orchard in Bilbrook last week.

They’ll be returning to site in a couple of weeks to extend the hedge planting around the area.

Tree planting is one of the most direct and practical ways of fighting climate change, and the council will be planting many more during the next few months.

Watch this space for details of how you can get involved.

Council job vacancies

Planning update

Every year local planning authorities publish their Five-Year Housing Land Supply. This is to show that they have enough specific deliverable sites to meet their housing requirements.

We have just published our most recent housing supply figures for 2021 which show a healthy 7.12 years of supply.

See a detailed breakdown of the figures via this link

Covid update

Major Incident stood down

The Major Incident that was declared across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent in the first week of January to help co-ordinate the response to Covid has been stood down.

The extraordinary pressure on health and care services have now abated. However health and care services do remain under pressure with high demand, compounded by staff shortages due to short-term absences, long-term recruitment and retention issues.

Please continue to take sensible precautions to limit the spread of the virus and to use health and care services responsibly. Get vaccinated as soon as possible, test regularly – especially before visiting vulnerable people or mixing with large numbers of people they don’t know – be aware of the risk of infection, and consider face coverings in crowded indoor places.

Covid updates bulletin

Last weekly Covid bulletin

In line with the steadily improving coronavirus situation across South Staffordshire, this week’s Covid news bulletin will be the last weekly update for now.

We will update you on any Covid-related updates and campaigns through this bulletin – but will bring back the Covid updates bulletin should it be required.

Leisure News

Visit Baggeridge Country Park this half term

Baggeridge is a great place for the family to enjoy with a variety of outdoor attractions on offer.

These include a newly-refurbished children’s play area, Baggeridge high ropes adventure, miniature railway (re-opening in Easter), a variety of walking trails and areas for picnics.

The park is a great way to encourage children to connect with nature and with little cost other than parking, it’s an affordable way to enjoy time as a family.

To find out more, click here

Wellbeing Walks

Baggeridge provide a weekly instructor-led Wellbeing Walk which takes place every Thursday at 10am.

The walk is a 90-minute trail around the park and a great way to improve your health.

We have now also introduced an additionally (monthly) walk which takes place on the first Tuesday of every month at 10am. The next monthly walk is on March 1.

For full details on our Wellbeing Walks, click here

Wanted: Receptionists and swimming instructors

South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centres are recruiting!

We are looking for receptionists and swimming instructors to join our teams.

For job vacancy details, click here

Partnership updates

Get up to £10,000 to improve your Place or Space

Sport England is investing £3.5m of National Lottery funding with up to £10,000 available to help inspire people across the West Midlands to play sport and being active more regularly as part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

For more information, click here

Going out for some drinks this weekend?

Get a takeaway on your way home instead of cooking while drunk.

Live Alone? You’re more likely to have a house fire.

Check your risk and get safety advice via this link

Littleton Green Chill Out Club

Want a fun, safe environment for young people to meet up with friends? Want to volunteer and make a difference in the lives of young people?

Littleton Green Chill Out Club reopens on February 17, with  a session for juniors (aged 8 to 11) between 6pm and 7.30pm.

For more information or to book, click here

Go phone-free when driving

Tempted to check your phone when you’re stuck in traffic or at the lights?

Stay safe and be phone-free until you reach your destination.

For more tips on how to stay safe on the road, click here

Safe+Sound

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service broadcasts a weekly Safe+Sound programme for Key Stage 2 children focusing on safety, wellbeing and life-skills messages created by specialist partners.

Next Wednesday’s Safe+Sound programme topics are:

  • What Happens When You Call 999 – RNLI
  • Online Safety (WhatsApp) – Tamworth Borough Council
  • Mobile Phones – Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership
  • Using a Defibrillator – HMB Training
  • Woodland Workouts – Staffordshire Wildlife Trust

Find out more here

Weekly News 254

 

This week’s news from around the council

Council news

Parking update for Codsall Community Hub

Any visitors to the Hub can now access the building through the car park entrance, which opened this week.

New disabled parking bays are also now available by the rear entrance.

Covid test centre

The Covid test centre will be located on the staff car park on February 9, 10 and 11

Waste Collection Service update

As you will no doubt be aware, our waste collection service has been impacted in recent months by both Covid and the national driver shortage.

We thank you all for your patience and understanding whilst we navigated our way through these challenges.

As we return to something closer to normal, from next Monday, February 7, if we do miss your bin collection, please report it to us by the end of the following working day on 01902 696000.

Wombourne Enterprise Park

Activity has now started at Wombourne Enterprise Park following the handover of the site to contractors Quantum Construction last week.

Quantum has begun mobilising equipment and preparing the site for the first phase of development. Internal stripping of existing materials is now underway in addition to ground and site investigations.

The redevelopment scheme will see Lidl taking a large retail unit, planned for completion early 2023.

A second retail unit will also be constructed and discussions are ongoing with prospective occupiers.

Additional industrial units will be constructed by Spring/Summer 2022 and will be occupied by two of the Enterprise Park’s existing tenants who will relocate to the new units.

Council job vacancies

South Staffordshire Climate Prize

Grant funding is now available for local community projects which help to tackle climate change.

There are lots of great things already being done in South Staffordshire to help us adapt to climate change and reduce its impact – but we know our communities have even more great ideas to make a difference locally.

Interested parties, including schools, community groups and mico businesses in South Staffordshire can apply for grant funding of up to £200 to deliver a local project.

Click here to find out more

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations

Looking to set up an event for The Queen’s Jubilee celebrations?

Applications for event funding are now open – until 5pm on February 18.

Grants up to £1,000 are available for all community and voluntary sector organisations in South Staffordshire, including those registered to the South Staffordshire Community Lottery.

For more information, click here

Do you have a child or youth aged eight to 18?

South Staffordshire Council is running two surveys to find out what children and young people aged between eight and 18 do in their local area – or what they would like to do.

Each of these surveys take two minutes to complete.

> Survey for parents and guardians

> Survey for young people

Covid update

Weekly Covid updates bulletin

Have you signed up yet?

For more information on the latest regulations, local walk-in vaccination centres, and testing, please sign up to our weekly Covid bulletin.

Simply input your email address when prompted and select Covid Updates.

Sign up here

Leisure News

What’s on at Baggeridge

Bird ringing

Baggeridge has a bird ringing demonstration on Sunday, February 27, from 8am to 10am, led by West Midlands Ringing Group.

Bird-ringing involves catching birds, securing a small metal ring around one of their legs, and ideally recording the bird’s species, age, sex, wing length and weight. Rings have a reference code inscribed on them that allows that particular bird to be uniquely identified if it is caught again in the future.

Baggeridge Adventure Challenge Academy

Baggeridge Adventure Challenge Academy re-opens to the public during the February half term – February 21 to 25.

There are various adventures available including high ropes, low ropes, nets courses, climbing, zip wires, a powerfan descender and more.

For more information and to book, click here

Miniature railway

Baggeridge Country Park has its own miniature railway track, which volunteers from the Wolverhampton and district Model Engineering Society use throughout the year.

The working miniature railway is open to the public at specific times throughout the year.

For opening times, click here

For more information about the facility, click here

February School Holiday Activity Camps

Children’s February Half Term Activity Camps are available at Codsall and Wombourne leisure centres from February 21 to 25, for children aged five to 14.

Find out more and book early for the best savings:

Codsall Leisure Centre camps – https://www.aspire-sports.co.uk/active-camps/codsall 

Wombourne Leisure Centre camps – https://www.aspire-sports.co.uk/active-camps/wombourne 

Details on camps at Cheslyn Hay and Penkridge leisure centres will be released soon.

Partnership updates

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

Nominate a batonbearer

Birmingham 2022 nominations for batonbearers for the Queen’s Baton Relay in England are now open.

Nominations will be open until February 14.

To nominate, go to https://www.birmingham2022.com/queens-baton-relay/batonbearer-nominations/

Volunteer at the Games

With just six months to go until Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, you could make history and be part of the opening and closing ceremonies of Birmingham 2022.

Volunteer now at: www.birmingham2022.com/ceremonies 

Safe+Sound

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service broadcasts a weekly Safe+Sound programme for Key Stage 2 children.

Safe+Sound is a programme of safety, wellbeing and life-skills messages created by specialist partners then compiled by the Fire Service to produce a programme that is transmitted on the Learn Live channel during term time.

Next Wednesday’s Safe+Sound programme topics are:

  • People Who Help Us – West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service
  • Online Safety (Facebook) – Tamworth Borough Council
  • The Year in Rescues 2021 – RNLI
  • Float to Live – RNLI
  • Woodland Workouts – Staffordshire Wildlife Trust

Find out more here

Weekly News 253

 

This week’s news from around the council

Council news

Codsall Community Hub update

Building access

From Monday, January, 31, public entrance and exit doors into the building will reopen permanently off the car park. These are the doors adjacent to the new Russell House Surgery.

For more information on building work progress, click here

Car parking

Next week from Monday, January 31, until Friday, February 11, the new car park adjacent to library will close to allow for new tarmacking and line painting where the current temporary access road is located.

During this time, new disabled parking bays will be opened adjacent to the building entrance off the car park, also all other sections of car park will be open.

On Monday, January 31, spaces behind the building adjacent to the grass bank will be unavailable for cars, allowing parking for lorries throughout the day delivering new furniture.

Line painting for spaces behind the building will take place on February 10 and 11.

Camp Bestival

The Environmental Health and Licensing team is excited to be working with a big festival at Weston Park again this August.  

Camp Bestival is coming to Weston Park. Tickets are due to go on sale this weekend for the sister show to the family festival in Dorset, which is a six-time winner of the UK Festival Award for Best Family Festival.

The team has already started working with Weston Park and Josie and Rob da Bank from Camp Bestival.

The line up is set to include acts such as Fatboy Slim, Rag n Bone Man, Scouting for Girls, Mister Maker, Mr Tumble, Gok Wan and Mr Motivator.

For more information on the festival, click here

Council job vacancies

Covid update

Weekly Covid updates bulletin

Have you signed up yet?

For more information on the latest regulations, local walk-in vaccination centres, and testing, please sign up to our weekly Covid bulletin.

Simply input your email address when prompted and select Covid Updates.

Sign up here

Leisure News

Wombourne 3G Pitch Progress 

The 3G pitch development at Wombourne Leisure Centre is progressing well.

Work is currently being done to create additional parking and as part of this, the current driveway at the back of the centre is being re-surfaced.

All of the work remains on schedule and we hope to open the facility in the not too distant future.

New Wellbeing Walk launching soon 

Baggeridge Country Park is launching a new Wellbeing Walk, taking place on the first Monday of every month – starting from February 1 at 10am.

The walk will be led by one of our qualified walk leaders and it’s free to attend.

Parking charges apply and machines are coin only.

The trail is for more experienced walkers and is planned to be in excess of 90 minutes with some slopes, stiles and uneven surfaces.

For more information, click here

Swimming teachers wanted

South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centres are looking for qualified swimming teachers to join their teams.

For more information on the vacancies, click here

We are also providing a variety of courses to train people up as qualified lifeguards, swimming instructors and water assistant.

For more information on the Training Academy, click here

Online and on-demand exercise classes 

South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centre provide a whole host of training courses enabling people to train and qualify as lifeguards, swimming teachers and water assistants.

For full details on up-and-coming courses, click here

South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centres provide over 30 live and online exercise classes per week which are free to leisure centre members.  

Non-members can also attend at a cost of £4 per class or join our online membership for as little as £12 per month.

For more information, click here

Partnership updates

Look when you cook

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people who live alone to take care – after statistics revealed that they are nearly four times more likely to die or be seriously injured in a fire.

Please take measures to avoid the chances of fire:

  • Look when you cook.
  • Replace traditional chip pans with an electric fryer.
  • Avoid cooking when drunk.
  • Ensure ovens and grills pans are kept clean.

To check your risk or that of someone you know visit Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s website www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk and click on the Living Alone link.

Breast screening

Eligible women, aged 50 to 70, should look out for their invitations for breast screening – they will be sent in the post.

Contact details for the service will be on the invitations – but those wishing to get in touch can do so by calling 01543 576235 or 01384 244177.

Have your say on health and wellbeing

Local people are being asked to join the conversation on a vision for a healthier Staffordshire.

The Staffordshire Health and Wellbeing Board has today launched a public conversation on their new draft strategy to improve the health and wellbeing of people who live and work in the county.

People are invited to share their thoughts and ideas on the draft strategy, which aims to tackle the underlying causes of poor health and wellbeing across the county.

The consultation will be open until midnight on Sunday, February 20.

People can get involved either by completing the online survey or by emailing their thoughts on the strategy to StaffsHWBB@Staffordshire.gov.uk

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