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Weekly News 311

Council and district news

Waste collection permit

You can now sign up for a garden waste collection permit for the 2023/24 collection year.

  • The price of a permit has been frozen at £43.60 for the fourth year running
  • Create a customer account in the new Customer Portal for extra permit management features
  • Bin collections start on July 3rd  2023
  • A permit sticker will be placed on the bin by our waste collection crews once collections start in July

Sign up online today at www.sstaffs.gov.uk/gardenwaste

 

People and skills: creating brighter futures

Do you know a resident who is looking to change their career choices or is facing barriers to move into the workforce i.e. childcare?

Do you know of a local company who is struggling to recruit?

 

South Staffordshire Council is launching our People and Skills programme at
Codsall Community Hub on Thursday June 22nd, 10am-12pm.

To book a space to either exhibit you vacancies or attend and see what opportunities are available for you please email peopleandskills@sstaffs.gov.uk or for further details please call the team on 01902 696228.

 

Corporate Social Responsibility – The benefits to business and communities

The Business Partnership is teaming up with the Kingswood Trust and the Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Growth hub to deliver the next in our series of events.

Tues, June 6th, 2023. 9.30am – 12pm

Focusing on the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR), we will explore the benefits of having an effective CSR programme and how this can lead to business growth, staff retention and an understanding of the impact on society, the economy and the environment.

Taking place at the Kingswood Trust, a place where history comes alive with old buildings, air-raid shelters, historical features, and artefacts. There will be an opportunity to network, access a range of business support and hear from our guest speakers, Helen Heywood MBA, Mark Carnaghan, Managing Director at Eurofins Food Testing UK Limited and Karen Woolley, Federation of Small Business who will all be highlighting the benefits and importance of effective CSR. Following the presentations there will be a guided tour of the wonderful woodland, natural habitats, base camps and air-raid shelters at Kingswood Trust and further opportunity to network.

Register here for this event

 

Vacancies

  • Communications Apprentice, closing May 28th
  • Street Scene Operative Level 2, closing June 2nd
  • Relief Leisure Assistant (all SSC Leisure Centres), closing September 30th
  • Relief Water Assistant (all SSC Leisure Centres), closing September 30th
  • Relief Swimming Instructor (all SSC Leisure Centres), closing September 30th

All vacancies can be viewed in full and applied for on our recruitment site: https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/vacancies

Leisure latest

Check out the refurbished leisure centres

South Staffordshire Council’s newly refurbished leisure centres are currently taking new members.

The facilities which have recently undergone upgrade work provide a range of facilities including all-new Pulse Fitness gyms, exercise and wellbeing classes, refurbished swimming pools and changing rooms, and toning suites offering Pilates-based workouts.

Customers can join now but start paying later as part of our Shape Up for Summer offer, giving users unlimited use of facilities with normal payments delayed until July.

For full details visit https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/sports-and-fitness/shape-summer

 

National Pool Lifeguard Course Coming Soon

The NPLQ course is  a week-long course consisting of a combination of pool work and theory work. 

On successfully passing the course, candidates will be qualified as a pool lifeguard.

  • Monday, May 29th to Saturday, June 3rd, 9am-5.30pm at Wombourne Leisure Centre
  • £280 (£70 non refundable deposit)
  • Must be 16 years at date of examination (June 3rd)
  • Must be able to swim 100m on front and 100m on back
  • Must be able to jump into the deepest part of the pool to retrieve a manakin
  • Must attend 100% of the course.
  • Places are limited. Booking is essential.

To find out more and book your place call Wombourne Leisure Centre on 01902 898202.

Swimming Teachers Association Level 2 Award Course

Sunday, May 28th to Friday June 2nd, 9am to 5pm

Candidates must be 16 years+

Advanced booking is essential for all courses.

For full details on courses, visit https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/sports-and-fitness/training-and-courses

Whitsun School Holiday Activity Camps

School holiday activity camps will be available at Codsall and Wombourne Leisure Centres between Tuesday, May 30th to Friday, June 2nd.

  • The camps are aimed at 5-14 years old
  • No block booking required
  • Save with early bird and sibling discounts. Plus emergency workers can also enjoy 10% off

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

 

Partnership Updates

Compassionate communities – bereavement information hubs

 

Compton Care’s Bereavement Information Hubs run across Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire and offer peer support for those who have or are currently experiencing loss and grief. The hubs provide a safe space to meet people in situations similar to your own and a shoulder to cry on should you need it!

“It is great to be back in the libraries offering this much needed support within the heart of local communities”

Perton Library 2:00pm – 4:00pm on the second Friday of the month.

Wombourne Library 1.30pm-3.30pm on the first Monday of the month.

Ask at the library for more information or contact:  compassionatecommunities@comptoncare.org.uk or 01902 774570

 

Need advice on wills and Power of Attorney

Thornes Solicitors will be offering free pop-up advice sessions.

Codsall Library – Every Third Thursday of the month at 10am – 11:30am

Perton Library – Every First Wednesday of the month at 10am – 1130am

 

Contact Perton Library on 01902 506050 or Codsall Library on 01902 506060 for more information.

 

Join thousands taking a walk on the wild side this June

What if there was an easy way to feel happier and healthier in just 30 days?

Enter – 30 Days Wild! A challenge which not only connects you with nature, but improves your wellbeing too.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust is inviting you to take part and do one wild thing a day this June.

Sign-up and you’ll get quick and simple suggestions of things you can do delivered straight to your inbox.

Popular activities include:

  • Wildlife-watching
  • Breakfasting outdoors
  • Listening to birdsong
  • Bug hunting
  • Litter picking your local area

You can interpret the challenge however you like – from planting for pollinators to taking on sporting challenges, or raising money for The Wildlife Trusts! You can plan and pick your own activities!

It’s great for adults and kids alike and the options are endless; your imagination is the only limitation.

No matter where you live, countryside, city, or anywhere between, there are lots of ways to get involved.

It’s half term next week so all the family can take part; last June thousands of people in Staffordshire did!

Will you take the challenge this year?

Sign-up here www.wildlifetrusts.org/30dayswild

If you need inspiration then click here to take a tour of stunning South Staffordshire.

for further information on what to do locally, click here Good Life Health & Wellbeing in the Community.

 

 

Weekly News 310

Council and district news

WATCH: Take a tour of stunning South Staffordshire

It’s a vibrant place to live, a progressive place to work, and a uniquely varied location to explore.

And now South Staffordshire is being shown in all its glory in a brand-new ‘Virtual Tour’.

The new video showcases a range of the striking and successful locations the district has to offer, from exciting tourist sites steeped in history and culture, to thriving business locations, vibrant community amenities and more.

See the video and find out more here: WATCH: Take a tour of stunning South Staffordshire (sstaffs.gov.uk)

Photography competition

Enjoy Staffordshire, the official tourist board for Staffordshire, is celebrating South Staffordshire this week for it’s first ever Enjoy South Staffordshire Week (May, 15th-21st 2023), and needs your help!

Send in your images of South Staffordshire, home to the grandeur of Weston Park and Wightwick Manor, the family fun of Lower Drayton Farm, the peace and tranquility of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal,  and the jaw-dropping history of Kinver Edge & Rockhouses, Boscobel House, and Moseley Old Hall.

The prize is a family ticket for Lower Drayton Farm, worth up to £68!

The winner will be announced on May, 22nd. The winning entry, and a selection of other entries, will also be featured, with credits, on the Enjoy Staffordshire website, Photography Competition – Enjoy Staffordshire, and social media channels.

There are some rules; for more information click here.

Share them before 5pm on Sunday May, 21st, on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, with the hashtag #EnjoySouthStaffs – or email them to info@enjoystaffordshire.com. 

 

‘A fantastic time in office’: Dr Matt Ewart’s reflection

The Chairman of the Council, Councillor Dr Matt Ewart will be carrying out his final duties as Chairman of South Staffordshire Council as he steps down from his role at next Tuesday’s Annual General Meeting. 

2022-23 has been a jam-packed term of office for the Chairman.  Key highlights included: the Council achieving notable successes such as being awarded the iESE Council of the Year in March 2022; the official opening of the Codsall Community Hub in July 2022 which was combined with the Queen’s Baton Relay and the unveiling of the Brian Edwards MBE memorial. During the period of official mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II the Chairman held a commemorative service for Members and welcomed King Charles III ascension to the throne.

 

The Chairman’s fundraising activities for his chosen charities Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support have been extremely successful with a whopping £6,691.28 raised.  This amount will be divided equally between the two charities. Pauline Lewis, Cancer Research UK’s representative said “Wow, what a fantastic amount of money Councillor Ewart has raised for both Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research UK during his term as Chairman”.

The Chairman said “I have had a fantastic term of office with so many significant events taking place.  I cannot thank everyone enough for their generosity in donating to my chosen charities, the amount of money that has been raised is simply amazing.  I would like to say a special thank you to both members and staff of South Staffordshire Council for making it an outstanding Council…long may it continue”.

 

South Staffs Council shortlisted for West Mids Planning Authority of the Year

South Staffordshire Council has been shortlisted for Planning Authority of the Year – West Midlands.

It is one of just two local authorities to have been shortlisted for the West Midlands section of the national Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) awards – with Birmingham City Council being the other.

The awards celebrate planning excellence on a national scale and acknowledge the positive contribution that planning professionals make to the communities they serve.

Covering applications and appeals, planning enforcement, and our elected member-led Local Plan, the South Staffordshire Planning Team prides itself on providing a first-class service to residents and stakeholders.

The experienced team now includes specialists in ecology, arboriculture, and housing strategy – allowing the authority to provide a holistic approach, working collaboratively as an integrated and efficient team.

Councillor Roger Lees, leader of the council said: “The council is rightly proud of its planning team and the hard work that has resulted in our efforts being recognised in being shortlisted for this prestigious award.

“South Staffordshire Council planners are also leading on a collaborative approach to address achieving net zero in the county by 2050, as well as bringing forward new policies for energy efficiency and climate change in the emerging Local Plan.”

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony held at Millennium Point on June 30th.

More information is available here: RTPI | RTPI West Midlands awards and RTPI | Awards

Vacancies

  • Director of Finance (Section 151), closing on May 19th
  • Cleaning Assistant based at Codsall Community Hub (Telford & Wrekin Council), closing May 19th.  To apply please visit: Cleaning Assistant – South Staffordshire Council Offices job with Telford & Wrekin Council | 159873 (wmjobs.co.uk)
  • Communications Apprentice, closing May 28th
  • Street Scene Operative Level 2, closing June 2nd
  • Relief Leisure Assistant (all SSC Leisure Centres), closing September 30th
  • Relief Water Assistant (all SSC Leisure Centres), closing September 30th
  • Relief Swimming Instructor (all SSC Leisure Centres), closing September 30th

All vacancies can be viewed in full and applied for on our recruitment site: https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/vacancies

Leisure latest

Leisure Hub – book online platform is now available

Leisure centre members can now book exercise classes online.  To register and get started, click here.  

 

Shape for Summer

Shape up for Summer with membership savings available for a limited time only!

Sign up to one of south Staffordshire leisure centres membership packages now and enjoy big savings.

Enjoy unlimited access across two months for just £20. Normal payments start July.

For full details visit https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/sports-and-fitness/shape-summer

National Pool Lifeguard Course Coming Soon

The NPLQ course is  a week-long course consisting of a combination of pool work and theory work. 

On successfully passing the course, candidates will be qualified as a pool lifeguard.

  • Monday, May 29th to Saturday, June 3rd, 9am-5.30pm at Wombourne Leisure Centre
  • £280 (£70 non refundable deposit)
  • Must be 16 years at date of examination (June 3rd)
  • Must be able to swim 100m on front and 100m on back
  • Must be able to jump into the deepest part of the pool to retrieve a manakin
  • Must attend 100% of the course.
  • Places are limited. Booking is essential.

To find out more and book your place call Wombourne Leisure Centre on 01902 898202.

Swimming Teachers Association Level 2 Award Course

Sunday, May 28th to Friday June 2nd, 9am to 5pm

Candidates must be 16 years+

Advanced booking is essential for all courses.

For full details on courses, visit https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/sports-and-fitness/training-and-courses

Whitsun School Holiday Activity Camps

School holiday activity camps will be available at Codsall and Wombourne Leisure Centres between Tuesday, May 30th to Friday, June 2nd.

  • The camps are aimed at 5-14 years old
  • No block booking required
  • Save with early bird and sibling discounts. Plus emergency workers can also enjoy 10% off

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

 

Partnership Updates

Diabetes Prevention Week May, 22nd – 28th

 

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type. It is high blood sugar levels due to your body not making enough of a hormone called insulin or what it makes not working properly.

Treatment includes eating well and moving more. Some people may also need to take diabetes medication such as metformin or insulin.

Type 2 diabetes can go undiagnosed for years if symptoms are missed. Left untreated high blood sugar levels can cause serious health problems called diabetes complications.

Anyone can develop type 2 diabetes but it mostly affects people over 25 often with a family history.

Over 1.3 million people have now been referred to the ‘Healthier You’ NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.

Click here to check your risk of type 2 diabetes using the @DiabetesUK risk tool – it could be the most important thing you do today.

 

Walking Month

To highlight the benefits of walking; May is nominated as the walking month.

But every month can be a walking month!

South Staffordshire Council provides a great range of Health and Wellbeing schemes which will not only help you to get fitter and improve your health, but they’re a great way to meet new people and are easy to access too.

Weekly programmes of activities are held at various locations across the district and include instructor-led Wellbeing Walks and gentle exercise classes; these are free!

Click here to view the timetables for both walking and gentle exercise.

Below are some comments from walkers who have already joined.

“Great walk, good leaders, good company!”

“Not only a wellbeing walk but great social activity.”

One walker found through talking to fellow walkers that many had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. They encouraged him to take the relevant blood tests and found that he too had signs of this cancer. Having radiotherapy and with the support of the group means that he was able to get the through the treatment.

To learn more about prostate cancer, click here.

 

Disabled fitness company expands with two apprentices

Two apprentices are helping a disabled fitness company’s expansion of its production and sales of a revolutionary wheelchair treadmill.

Invictus Active, based in Four Ashes, Wolverhampton, was set up by Scott Smith and Paul Cooksey, who are both full-time wheelchair users following spinal cord injuries.

Launched in 2015, the company is now focusing on the market growth of its Invictus Active Trainer, a lightweight, portable fitness machine, similar to a treadmill, which helps wheelchair users to get fit.

With the help of the Ladder and local training provider Performance Through People, Invictus Active has recruited Kenzy Wilkins, aged 16, from Wolverhampton, on a Lean Manufacturing Level 2 Apprenticeship, and Michael Hogg, aged 22, of Wombourne, on a Business Administration Level 3 Apprenticeship.

Invictus Active supplies many disability products across the world, as well as providing online wheelchair fitness sessions, with the aim of enabling anyone to be as fit and active as possible.

The Invictus Active Trainer has sold more than 1,000 since its launch, and the company is now developing links with gyms and international dealers to accelerate its growth.

The Ladder team assisted Invictus Active in accessing grants from the Staffordshire Means Back to Business campaign to recruit the two apprentices.

 

 

 

Weekly News 309

Council and district news

A royal garden party

South Staffordshire Council’s Chairman Elect, Councillor Meg Barrow and her Consort Mr Adrian Hill attended Buckingham Palace royal garden party on Tuesday May, 9th.  Eight thousand people were welcomed into the grounds for the event, where the Prince and Princess of Wales represented the King, alongside the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.  Other members of the family including the Princess Royal were also present.

Councillor Barrow said “it really was a wonderful day, the weather was glorious and I felt extremely honoured to have represented the Council at such a special event”.

 

Reminder: Stay safe online

We’d like to remind everyone to ensure they take the necessary precautions to stay safe online.

Please take the time to visit the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) website for top tips on keeping yourself and your loved ones protected.

Scams can be incredibly convincing and can come in the form of a text message, email, social media post and more.

It is also essential you take the time to ensure your social media accounts are fully protected, with secure passwords and two-step verification.

Find out more about two-step verification here: Setting up 2-Step Verification (2SV) – NCSC.GOV.UK).

Guides the NCSC offers include:

Phishing: Spot and report scam emails, texts, websites and… – NCSC.GOV.UK

 

Vacancies

All vacancies can be viewed in full and applied for on our recruitment site: https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/vacancies

Leisure latest

Newly refurbished leisure centres now open

South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centres have each undergone bespoke refurbishment works which have included upgrades to the entrance and reception, newly refurbished swimming pools and changing rooms and all-new Pulse Fitness gyms. 

The refurbishments started last year with final works at Cheslyn Hay and Wombourne Leisure Centres completed in April 2023.  The leisure centres are pleased to be fully open and able to provide members and users with access to good quality facilities. To find out what’s available, click here.

An offer fit for a King

Join now and enjoy savings with an offer fit for a King.

Join before May 15th, pay £20 then nothing more until July. Use promotional code SSU23. Join online click here or pop into your nearest leisure centre to sign up at reception.

Terms and conditions apply, for full details click here.

National Pool Lifeguard Course Coming Soon

The NPLQ course is  a week-long course consisting of a combination of pool work and theory work. 

On successfully passing the course, candidates will be qualified as a pool lifeguard.

  • Monday, May 29th to Saturday, June 3rd, 9am-5.30pm at Wombourne Leisure Centre
  • £280 (£70 non refundable deposit)
  • Must be 16 years at date of examination (June 3rd)
  • Must be able to swim 100m on front and 100m on back
  • Must be able to jump into the deepest part of the pool to retrieve a manakin
  • Must attend 100% of the course.
  • Places are limited. Booking is essential.

To find out more and book your place call Wombourne Leisure Centre on 01902 898202.

Whitsun School Holiday Activity Camps

School holiday activity camps will be available at Codsall and Wombourne Leisure Centres between Tuesday, May 30th to Friday, June 2nd.

  • The camps are suitable for young peoples aged 5-14 years old
  • No block booking required
  • Save with early bird and sibling discounts. Plus emergency workers can also enjoy 10% off

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

 

Partnership Updates

Ditch the Blade

 

The Ditch the Blade campaign, running from May 15th to 29th, seeks to educate young people on the dangers and consequences of carrying a knife.

99% of young people under 29 don’t carry a knife, but some young people still feel pressured into carrying because of a perception that everyone else is. The Ditch the Blade campaign seeks to dispel myths around this and encourage everyone to Ditch the Blade.

To support this, there are knife banks located across Staffordshire where members of the public can anonymously surrender their weapons with no repercussions.

You can find more information on the campaign, and the knife bank locations by visiting the Staffordshire Police website: www.staffordshire.police.uk/ditchtheblade

Local volunteer crowned a Coronation Champion

An outstanding volunteer from Bilbrook, has been recognised by Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort as part of the official Coronation celebrations in conjunction with Royal Voluntary Service.

Annette Lloyd volunteers with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and The Friends of Bilbrook and has been recognised for their contribution and crowned a Coronation Champion. This follows a call out to the nation to nominate their volunteer heroes. Almost 5000 entries were received, with nominations made for individuals aged 14 up to 103.

Annette impressed judges with her spectacular volunteer record of 38 years. For the past 11 years Annette has devoted her time to The Friends of Bilbrook community group, planting and caring for a wood to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The wood is now a fantastic haven for all sorts of wildlife containing 1500 trees and is a much loved part of Bilbrook.

 

No Mow May

Staffordshire County Council has launched its ‘No Mow May Staffs’ campaign encouraging residents to lock up their lawnmowers and leave their grass to grow during the month of May.

the Council are giving away free signs for people to put in their garden at selected libraries and urging people to post photos using the hashtag #NoMowMayStaffs.

Mowing your lawn less frequently can provide enough nectar sugar for ten times the number of bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, and other pollinators to improve biodiversity.

Why is biodiversity important? Without a wide variety of animals, plants, and microbes, we cannot have a healthy ecosystem on which we depend to provide the air we breathe and the food we eat.

May is traditionally the time when soils are warm enough for grasses to really start shooting up so is the best time to keep your grass unkept.

So take a rest and let the grass grow!

 
This email was sent to council@pertonparishcouncil.gov.uk using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: South Staffordshire Council · Council Offices · Wolverhampton Road · Codsall · South Staffordshire WV8 1PX

Weekly News 308

 

Council and district news

The elections are next week!

Elections voter ID: Are you ready?

The UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections.

This new requirement will apply for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday, May 4th, 2023.

Find out which forms of ID you can use and more information via this link

Landmark smashed and brass plate stolen from beauty spot

A landmark toposcope which has been in situ for almost 30 years at a Staffordshire beauty spot has been smashed and its large brass plate stolen.

The toposcope at Baggeridge Country Park is believed to have been targeted by thieves overnight on Friday (April 21st), with the extensive damage having been discovered by park rangers on Saturday morning.

The brass plate – measuring around 3ft in diameter – and the toposcope on which it sat has been the site of a range of events over the years, most recently when a beacon was lit last summer to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

  

 

The toposcope, which has been at Baggeridge since 1994, is also a key location for the thousands of people who visit the park each year for its range of walking routes and scenic views.

The plate bears carvings resembling a compass, showing the distance from the toposcope to a range of nearby locations.

South Staffordshire Council, which runs Baggeridge Country Park, is urging anyone who may come across the plate or anyone who may have witnessed the vandalism and theft to contact Staffordshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 44026423.

 

Vacancies

  • Relief Swimming Instructor (all SSC Leisure Centres), closing on April 28th
  • Relief Leisure Assistant (Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre), closing on May 2nd
  • Senior Compliance Officer, closing May 9th
  • Senior Conservation Officer, closing on May 9th
  • Relief Receptionist (Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre), closing on May 16th
  • Director of Finance (Section 151), closing on May 19th
  • Relief Leisure Assistant (all SSC Leisure Centres), closing September 30th

All vacancies can be viewed in full and applied for on our new recruitment site: https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/vacancies

Leisure latest

Wombourne Gym Upgrade

 

Wombourne Leisure Centres gym is now open after it’s recent refurbishment.

 

 

Partnership Updates

Staffordshire Police: ‘Let’s Talk Stalking’

 

Staffordshire Police is running a campaign to raise awareness of what stalking is and the key behaviours a stalker may display. It also aims to raise awareness of how people can keep themselves safe both in person and online.

Stalking is defined as ‘a pattern of fixated and obsessive behaviour which is repeated, persistent, intrusive and causes fear of violence or engenders alarm and distress in the victim.’

Most stalking victims know their stalker, for example, they could be an ex-partner, family member or a work colleague. Regardless of the relationship between the victim and the stalker, this behaviour is not acceptable.

We want people to recognise the FOUR behaviours highlighted in our video above that are warning signs that someone is stalking you:

Fixated – being followed on your daily routine, spied on, or being watched by someone loitering around your work or home.

Obsession – being monitored on or offline, cyberstalking, the ordering and cancelling of items on your behalf.

Unwanted attention – gifts being sent or left for you; unwanted messages, letters or phone calls. Even damage or graffiti being caused to your property.

Repeated behaviour – this can be any nuisance or threatening behaviour, being approached, accosted or bullied repeatedly.

There are a few things you can do to protect yourself. Visit the website to read examples of stalking and how to protect yourself by clicking here, click Let’s Talk Stalking | Staffordshire Police

We also want to encourage victims to report this behaviour to us by calling 101, reporting through our website (www.staffordshire.police.uk) or call 999 in an emergency

 

There will be no newsletter next week due to the elections taking place, but we will be back on May 12th.

 

 
This email was sent to council@pertonparishcouncil.gov.uk using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: South Staffordshire Council · Council Offices · Wolverhampton Road · Codsall · South Staffordshire WV8 1PX

Weekly News 307

 

Council and district news

Vacancies

  • Waste Management and Customer Support Assistant Team Manager, closing April 23rd.
  • Relief Water Assistant (all Leisure Centres), closing on April 27th.
  • Relief Swimming Instructor (all Leisure Centres), closing on April 28th.
  • Relief Leisure Assistant (Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre), closing on May 2nd
  • Senior Conservation Officer, closing on May 9th.
  • Relief Receptionist (Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre), closing on May 16th.
  • Director of Finance (Section 151), closing on May 19th.

All vacancies can be viewed in full and applied for on our new recruitment site: https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/vacancies

Elections voter ID: Are you ready?

The UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections.

This new requirement will apply for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday, May 4th, 2023.

Find out which forms of ID you can use and more information via this link

Leisure latest

Wombourne Gym Upgrade

Wombourne Leisure Centres gym is currently closed for refurbishment. The facility is planned to re-open on Tuesday, April 25th.

Confirmation of re-opening will be posted on Facebook early next week.

Leisure Hub

The new ‘Leisure Hub’ platform is now live!

The platform will initially be accessible to leisure centre members, however we anticipate that the platform will be rolled out to non-members in May.

Using the Leisure Hub is a simple, efficient and interactive experience and will provide users with access to information, all in one place!

Members are able to:

  • Book activities
  • View timetables
  • Make payments
  • Join and pay online
  • Switch memberships
  • Manage your account

Members can now sign up and get started; click here.

 

Partnership Updates

Recruitment campaign for on-call firefighters

 

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Services are looking to raise awareness of on-call firefighters and encourage people from all communities to apply to become an on-call firefighters and make a difference in their local area.

On-call firefighters are crucial part of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service as they provide invaluable front-line support to wholetime colleagues and communities across the county. They provide ‘on-call’ cover for their local fire stations and respond to a range of fire and rescue emergencies when an incident occurs, any time day or night.

Unlike wholetime firefighters, on-call firefighters aren’t based at the fire station 24 hours a day. They can continue their day-to-day activities but when they are ‘on-call’ and their alerter goes off, they need to respond. Many of our on-call firefighters already have primary employment and fit in their ‘on-call’ hours around their other commitments. The hours our on-call firefighters provide ‘on-call’ cover vary between day, night or weekend cover, or a combination of all three. On-call firefighters are trained to the same standards as their wholetime colleagues and therefore, respond to the same type of emergencies. We want to recruit more on-call firefighters across Staffordshire and create and support a diverse, healthy and professional workforce.

For further information; click here.

 

Staffordshire Libraries: Young Teen Fiction Award 2023

Staffordshire Young Teen Fiction Award (YTF) is an annual countywide initiative where young people aged 11-14 who live, go to school in Staffordshire, or who use a Staffordshire Library are encouraged to read a range of fiction and nominate eligible titles for the shortlist and vote for the winner.

The six shortlisted titles for the Young Teen Fiction Award 2023 are:

  • Spark by M.G. Leonard
  • Unraveller by Frances Hardinge
  • When I see Blue by Lily Bailey
  • Fight Back by A.M. Dassu
  • Once Upon a Fever by Angharad Walker
  • The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder

Congratulations to these fine authors and thank you to everyone who nominated – there were over 9000 nominations for the shortlist this year!

11-14 year olds, if you have not read any of the shortlisted titles it is time to get reading! Borrow from your local library and decide who you think should win.

You can vote now, if you have already read them all, at the link: www.staffordshire.gov.uk/YTFshortlist

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using #YTF2023 to keep up to date.

The winner will be announced at our celebration day hosted in partnership with our friends at RAF Museum, Midlands on 5th July.

 

 

Stephen Lawrence Day is observed every 22nd April, the anniversary of Stephen’s murder.

Stephen’s story is both challenging and inspirational. He was a normal young person who made the most of everyday opportunities. Although his life was short, Stephen provides a positive role model of a life well lived.

Like most young people, he juggled an active social life, school work, family commitments, and part-time employment. But he also had ambitions to use his talent for maths, art, and design to become an architect, and wanted to have a positive impact on his community.

Tragically, his dream of becoming an architect was never realised. On 22 April 1993, at the age of just 18, Stephen was murdered in an unprovoked racist attack. He didn’t know his killers and his killers didn’t know him.

The Stephen Lawrence Research Centre at De Montfort University and The Reading Agency have partnered to commemorate Stephen’s life and legacy, with the SL30 Reading Challenge designed to encourage a new generation to think about the world they live in as a place where everyone can thrive. The Challenge features free reading activities for children and young people that will celebrate the key themes of hope, love, care, and acceptance for all.

The Challenge is available to children aged 0-14 years from 1st April – 1st May 2023. Head to your local library to find out more.

Discover more about Stephen Lawrence Day and access learning resources for Primary and Secondary aged children at the Stephen Lawrence Day website.

 

The Big Help Out

The Big Help Out is a voluntary initiative supported by some of the UK’s biggest volunteer organisations, including the Scouts and the Royal Voluntary Service, as well as the Shaping the Future with Volunteering group of the UK’s leading volunteer-involving charities.

The Big Help Out is open to all, and any organisation or individual can join in with or register an event via the app.

The objective of The Big Help Out is to raise awareness of volunteering throughout the UK and provide opportunities for people to experience volunteering and make a difference in their communities. This is not a profit making or fundraising initiative.

To mark His Majesty The King’s Coronation thousands of organisations across the country are getting together to give us all the chance to help out in our own local communities.

Starting on Monday, May 8th, there will be opportunities for everyone to join in. No matter what you are good at, there’ll be something to suit helping hands of all shapes and sizes! From checking in on someone who’d like a bit of company or volunteering for a charity the more of us who join in, the bigger help we will be.

If you can spare an hour…fantastic. The day?…amazing. If it becomes a regular thing, so much the better. If we all do a bit, it will really help a lot.

Help us to do something amazing. Join in, Lend a hand. Make a change!

Click here for further information; The Big Help Out | Home

 

 
This email was sent to council@pertonparishcouncil.gov.uk using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: South Staffordshire Council · Council Offices · Wolverhampton Road · Codsall · South Staffordshire WV8 1PX

Weekly News 304

Council and district news

Now out: New Review magazine

The latest edition of our Review magazine is now out.

The residents magazine features updates from across the council, with news about council tax, the latest from our leisure centres, information from our waste and recycling team, and information about what we’re doing to help mitigate climate change in the district.

It also includes news on fly-tipping figures – and what residents can do to help reduce littering in the district – plus information on what’s needed to vote in the upcoming elections.

There’s also news from our planning team, an update from the new Local Policing Commander for South Staffordshire, information around community safety, and the latest from our business team.

Read the latest edition of the Review magazine via our brand-new accessible page-flipping feature via this link (The Review magazine issue 81 | South Staffordshire District Council (sstaffs.gov.uk))

South Staffs businesses win six awards at prestigious event

South Staffordshire’s tourism and hospitality sector shone brightly last night, with three of the district’s businesses taking home a total of six accolades from a prestigious county-wide awards ceremony.

The 2023 Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism and Good Food Awards saw businesses from the district come away with two gold awards, one silver, two bronze – and a special award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism in Staffordshire.

Weston Park was the district’s big winner of the night, coming away with a total of three accolades.

The landmark’s Holiday Cottages were named Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year, while its Granary restaurant won silver in the Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year category.

Weston Park chief executive, Colin Sweeney, was also presented with a special award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism in Staffordshire in recognition of his work to position the estate as a premier destination.

Play@ Lower Drayton Farm, near Penkridge, meanwhile, was named Small Visitor Attraction of the Year.

The Moat House at Acton Trussell came away with two bronze awards in the categories of Business Events Venue of the Year and Large Hotel of the Year.

Vacancies

  • Customer Services General Advisors (Part & Full Time), closing March 26th.

All vacancies can be viewed in full and applied for on our new recruitment site: https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/vacancies

Elections voter ID: Are you ready?

The UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections.

This new requirement will apply for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday, May 4th, 2023.

Find out which forms of ID you can use and more information via this link

Council Tax Bills

Council tax bills and benefit letters will be posted out weeks commencing March 13th and March 20th, 2023.

To view a copy of your bill on “My Account”, set up a direct debit, request a single persons discount or record a change of circumstance please visit our NEW website today. www.sstaffs.gov.uk/council-tax

Bin collection calendars are out for delivery

Bin crews are hard at work delivering our new 2023-25 bin calendar booklets throughout the district.

Residents will receive their new bin calendar over the coming weeks.  A copy of this will also be available on line on the new council website.

For any South Staffs residents there are no immediate changes to your bin collection day. Continue to present as normal.

Leisure latest

Easter activities at the Leisure Centres

Easter Fayre coming soon to Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre

Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay Community Group are hosting an Easter Fayre at Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre on Saturday, March 25th.  It will be free entry for all visitors and Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre is looking forward to welcoming small local businesses to the event. Tables are still available to be booked.

For more information and to reserve a table for your stall contact Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre on 01922 417790.

Free School Holiday Activities and Food Scheme

As part of the activity camp provisions, children living in South Staffordshire and who are in receipt of free school meals are eligible to free camps and a hot meal as part of the ‘Holiday Activities and Food’ Scheme (HAF) which is funded by the Government. These are available at each of the leisure centres as follows:

  • Cheslyn Hay from Tuesday, April 11th to Friday, April 14th.
  • Codsall from Monday, April 3rd to Thursday, April 6th.
  • Penkridge from Monday, April 3rd to Thursday, April 6th.
  • Wombourne from Tuesday, April 11th to Friday, April 14th.

Bookings for the free activities and food will be available from 4pm on March 17th and customers booking these must have their unique reference to hand at the time of booking.

For more information about the free camps and hot food places, and to book visit https://www.aspire-sports.co.uk/active-camps/free-easter-activities

School holiday Activity Camps

Aspire school holiday activity camps are being held this Easter at South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centres.  The camps provide young people aged 5 to 14 years old with access to sports based activities.  Camps will be available between Monday, April 3rd to Friday, April 14th, 2023.

Discounts are available for siblings and emergency service workers.

Codsall and Wombourne Leisure Centres camps will be available from Monday, April 3rd to Thursday, April 6th; and Tuesday, April 11th to Friday, April 14th.

For more information and to book visit https://www.aspire-sports.co.uk/active-camps

Wolves Goalkeeping and Soccer Schools

Wolves Soccer School is coming to our Leisure Centres this Easter.

These sessions will run from 9am to 3pm and are suitable for children from reception to year 7. The cost is £40 for two days or £70 for 4 days.

Wombourne Leisure Centre

Dates: Monday, April 3rd to Thursday, April 6th

Penkridge Leisure Centre

Thursday, April 13th and Friday, April 14th

Cheslyn Hay Lesuire Centre

Tuesday, April 11th to Friday, April 14th

For more information and to book the Goalkeeping and Soccer schools, click here which takes you to the Wolverhampton Wanderers booking screen.

 

Partnership Updates

‘Hour Shakespeare’

Celebrate ‘Shakespeare Week’ at Perton Library with the ‘Hour Shakespeare’ group. The group will perform scenes from Shakespeare plays, take part in an audience Q&A session and you will also be able to request favourite pieces for the group to perform.

Venue:  Perton Library

Date:  Tuesday March 21st

Time:  7:00pm-8:00pm (Please arrive for 6:45pm to be seated)

FREE, but donations are requested to cover the groups expenses.

Refreshments will be available.

Please contact Perton Library for more information or to book on 01902 506050 or perton.library@staffordshire.gov.uk

.

Weekly News 303

Council and district news

Now live: Brand-new website launches

Our brand-new website has arrived!

The fresh, modern online platform makes accessing information easier and quicker than ever, with a completely revamped design and layout. 

Our new website also allows more people to access it, with new features put in place to ensure the pages are easy to find and simple to understand.

  

The Review magazine is also now presented with an all-new page-turning application, giving readers an enhanced, more accessible experience.

We have also introduced Recite Me, an interactive accessibility tool which allows visitors to customise the site to meet their needs. This includes tools such as a screen reader, a language translator, and numerous other features – each of which can be saved to ensure visitors’ preferences are in place for every time they visit our website.

The new platform also makes transactions smoother than ever to complete – such as the payment of council tax and the registration for garden waste collections – and enables users to complete these at any time which best suits them.

We are also be asking for your feedback on the new website to help us make it the best it can be for everyone, so please do take the time to let us know what you think.

This is just the first step of an exciting new programme of works through which South Staffordshire Council is looking to improve the customer experience when members of the public or businesses need to access our information or get in touch.

Check out the new website at Homepage | South Staffordshire District Council

Now out: New Review magazine

The latest edition of our Review magazine is now out.

The residents magazine features updates from across the council, with news about council tax, the latest from our leisure centres, information from our waste and recycling team, and information about what we’re doing to help mitigate climate change in the district.

It also includes news on fly-tipping figures – and what residents can do to help reduce littering in the district – plus information on what’s needed to vote in the upcoming elections.

There’s also news from our planning team, an update from the new Local Policing Commander for South Staffordshire, information around community safety, and the latest from our business team.

Man made to pay £1,830 for fly-tipping on country lane

A man has been made to pay more than £1,800 after he dumped a large pile of trees on a country lane in South Staffordshire.

Dilpreet Singh Khatria, of Fairdale Gardens, Hayes, pleaded guilty to a fly-tipping offence when he appeared at Newcastle under Lyme Magistrates Court this week.

Khatria drove to Mill Lane in Saredon on April 16th last year, where he unloaded a large amount of conifer trees from his pick-up truck.

Hackney Carriage

On Behalf of Cllr Wendy Sutton, Chair Licensing and Regulatory Committee

We are currently consulting on a proposal to increase the fare charged by hackney carriages in South Staffordshire.

Notes:  there is currently only one hackney carriage vehicle operating in South Staffordshire.  (These are taxis that can be hailed, rather than private hire vehicles which must be pre booked.)  The majority of vehicles operating in South Staffordshire are Private hire vehicles and they are able to increase their fees without consultation, and have done so recently.

South Staffordshire hackney carriage fares are currently the 175th lowest fare rate in the country.  Our fares have not increased for twelve years, since 2010, with a two-mile journey on tariff one (the industry benchmark) costing £5.10. Every other licensing authority, apart from Pendle, has increased their fees more recently.

Engagement and consultation with the trade has been ongoing, with consideration given to inflation, labour shortages in the taxi industry, future anticipated costs, fares set by other authorities.

The consultation period will run from March 1st  2023 to March 28th  2023. Any objection to the proposed variations should be made in writing to:

David Pattison
Director of Governance
and Solicitor to the Council
Civic Centre, St Peter’s Square
Wolverhampton WV1 1RG

5 rated businesses

Well done to these businesses who have achieved a 5 rating at their recent inspections:

  • Woodford House nursing home in Trysull
  • @ Allan’s, Cherry Tree Court, Essington
  • Create Community Café, Stafford Rd, Huntington
  • The Truckers Rest Café, Watling St, Hatherton
  • Bee Wild, Hollybush Garden Centre, Saredon

Vacancies

  • Customer Services General Advisors (Part & Full Time), closing March 26th.

All vacancies can be viewed in full and applied for on our new recruitment site: https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/vacancies

Elections voter ID: Are you ready?

The UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections.

This new requirement will apply for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday, May 4th, 2023.

Find out which forms of ID you can use and more information via this link

Leisure latest

Brand-new website now live

South Staffordshire Council launched a brand-new website this week and work will continue over the coming weeks and months to continue developing the new webpages however to view the leisure centres webpages, visit https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/sports-and-fitness #accessibility

Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre.

We announced last week the reopening of the upgraded gym and we are now delighted to tell you that the swimming pool and changing areas are also having a makeover and will reopen later this month.

Wombourne Leisure Centre refurbishment progress

This is progressing well with the new reception and foyer now open. The swimming pool and poolside changing rooms are also near completion after receiving all-new tiles on the poolside deck and a total refurbishment including new tiling, lockers, flooring, showers and cubicles in the changing rooms. The facilities are planned to re-open at the end of this month. For more information and to book call 01922 417790. 

The leisure centres are also taking on new members.  For full details visit www.sstaffs.gov.uk/leisure.

Easter activities at the Leisure Centres

Various activities are taking place in the leisure centres over Easter for families and children.

  • Easter Fayre at Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre on Saturday March 25th. This is free to enter and you can buy goodies from local businesses.
  • Free school holiday activities and food schemes happening from April 3rd.
  • Aspire school holiday activity camps from Monday April 3rd.
  • Wolves Goalkeeping and Soccer schools available at Cheslyn Hay, Penkridge and Wombourne Leisure Centres

Bookings for the free activities and food will be available from 4pm on March, 17.

All customers booking the free activities and food must have their unique reference to hand at the time of booking.

For more information about school holiday activity camps and to book, visit https://www.aspire-sports.co.uk/active-camps

For more information about the free camps and hot food places, and to book visit https://www.aspire-sports.co.uk/active-camps/free-easter-activities.

For more information and to book the Goalkeeping and Soccer schools, click here which takes you to the Wolverhampton Wanderers booking screen.

Watch this space for further information over the coming weeks and follow the leisure centres on their Facebook pages for the latest information.

Partnership Updates

S&SOT Integrated Care Partnership Strategy

The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Partnership is engaging with
people and communities to develop a single strategy that sets out the ambition,
vision, and approach for the area over the next five years and beyond.

Building on local knowledge and existing health and wellbeing strategies, it will
describe how the health, care and wellbeing needs of the local population are to be
met and how partners will work together to increase the integration of health, social
care and other community services.

Although a national requirement, a collaborative approach is being taken to develop
the strategy, which will be locally owned and delivered at a local level. A draft
summary is available here, however the final version will be shaped by
feedback from partners and the public.

The integrated strategy will focus on long-term priorities that will tackle longstanding
challenges, reduce inequalities, and deliver better care. It will be underpinned by a
population health approach that will outline how the ICP will deliver more joined-up,
preventative, and person-centred care for the whole population.

The partnership are currently engaging with groups and communities across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to hear the views of the local population, supported by an on-line
survey. To complete the survey, click here.

Consultation with Young People

 

Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services (SCVYS) has been asked by the Violence Reduction Alliance (VRA) to engage with children and young people aged 11-25 years old. The consultation aims to understand the views and concerns of young people, and how as a partnership we can work together to improve community safety across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
   

This survey can be independently completed by all and any young people aged between 11 and 25 years of age clicking here.

The Great British Spring Clean

 

Back for its eighth year, the Great British Spring Clean is the nation’s biggest mass-action environmental campaign – and this year the official date is March 17th to April 2nd.

Friends of Bilbrook have two events planned on March 30th or March 31st.They are looking for volunteers to litter pick around Bilbrook, normally for two to three hours per day.

 

For more information:

email enquiries@friendsofbilbrook.org

Or call Annette Lloyd 07989 423617.

  

Making Every Contact Count (MECC)

MECC is essentially about enabling your staff to recognise the opportunity they have in facilitating people to have greater awareness of their health and wellbeing.

It is about empowering people to seek their own solutions to support their own health and wellbeing.

MECC training is online, so no travelling costs, and allows people to deliver brief evidence-based interventions for lifestyle behavioural change; the core elements of which are:

  • Stopping smoking – Everyone Health offers a service
  • Increasing physical activity– Everyone Health offers a service
  • Maintaining a healthy weight and diet – Everyone Health offers a service.
  • Promoting mental health and emotional health and wellbeing
  • Reducing alcohol consumption

For more information, contact the service manager: emmamennell@everyonehealth.co.uk

To view the training dates and booking details click here: Everyone Health MECC – Staffordshire – Booking by Bookwhen

Science fair and Spring festival

To celebrate British Science Week Perton Library and Wild About Perton are hosting a fantastic science fair for all the family on Saturday 18th March, 10:00am – 3:00pm.

There’s a variety of science shows, workshops, exhibitions and things to see and do.

For further information or to book places on the more popular workshops, please contact Perton Library on 01902 506050 or email perton.library@staffordshire.gov.uk

Weekly News 302

Council and district news

Website launch: Dynamic new platform goes live next week

It’s almost time. Our brand-new website will be launching next week.

The fresh, modern online platform will make accessing information easier and quicker than ever, with a completely revamped design and layout.

The new website will also allow more people to access it, with new features put in place to ensure the pages are easy to find and simple to understand.

The Review magazine will also be presented with an all-new page-turning application, giving readers an enhanced, more accessible experience.

We have also introduced Recite Me, an interactive accessibility tool which allows visitors to customise the site to meet their needs. This includes tools such as a screen reader, a language translator, and numerous other features – each of which can be saved to ensure visitors’ preferences are in place for every time they visit our website.

The new platform will also make transactions smoother than ever to complete – such as the payment of council tax and the registration for garden waste collections – and will enable users to complete these at any time which best suits them.

We will also be asking for your feedback on the new website to help us make it the best it can be for everyone, so please do take the time to let us know what you think.

This is just the first step of an exciting new programme of works through which South Staffordshire Council is looking to improve the customer experience when members of the public or businesses need to access our information or get in touch.

South Staffordshire reaffirms support for armed forces communities

South Staffordshire’s council leader joined council leaders across Staffordshire to reaffirm their commitment to the county’s armed forces community and to encourage other organisations to pledge their support. 

Leader of South Staffordshire Council, Cllr Roger Lees; Leader of Staffordshire County Council, Alan White; along with other council leaders, together with the military, met in Stafford to re-sign the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring those who serve/have served and their families, are treated fairly ensuring all members of the Armed Forces community have the same access to public and commercial services as any other citizen does.

Leader of South Staffordshire Council, Councillor Roger Lees, said: “The men and women of all our armed forces do a tremendous job and we are proud to support this covenant, working with partners to support whenever we are able.”

Click here to read the full article.

Win; don’t bin!

South Staffordshire Council will be supporting Food Waste Action Week Campaign Love Food Hate Waste which runs from March 6th. Keep an eye out for lots of exciting food waste content next week on our social media channels.  

 

 

Vacancies

  • Cleaning Assistant (Telford & Wrekin Council), open application date 
  • Relief Leisure Assistants at Codsall, Wombourne, Penkridge & Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centres, open application date. 
  • Swimming Instructors, all leisure centres, open application date.   

All vacancies can be viewed in full and applied for on our new recruitment site: https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/vacancies

Neighbourhood plan

A Neighbourhood Plan is a way of helping local communities to influence the planning of the area in which they live and work. In South Staffordshire, Neighbourhood Plans can be made by parish councils, who are known as designated bodies. 

Plans are led and written by the community, not the district council. Neighbourhood plans must be in line with the National Planning Policy Framework and the overall strategic approach and policies set out in South Staffordshire’s Local Plan. 

Kinver Parish Council has reached an important stage in the preparation of their Neighbourhood Plan.  South Staffordshire Council is now running a 6-week period of public consultation on their draft plan.  The consultation, which is open to all, runs until 5pm, Monday March 6, 2023.   

Comments must be made in writing to South Staffordshire Council, at neighbourhoodplanning@sstaffs.gov.uk or by post to Community Hub, Council Offices, Wolverhampton Road, Codsall, WV8 1PX. 

For more information and to read the draft plan and supporting documents visit: Kinver Neighbourhood Plan South Staffordshire Council (sstaffs.gov.uk)

Elections voter ID: Are you ready?

The UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections.

This new requirement will apply for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday, May 4th, 2023.

Find out which forms of ID you can use and more information via this link

Leisure latest

Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre

Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centres newly refurbished gym reopened this week.  The facility has been completely redecorated with new flooring and all-new state of the art Pulse Fitness gym equipment.

The new equipment includes a wide range of cardio featuring large screen consoles, pin-loaded resistance machines and free weights area.  The gym is open to members and non-members, however, new users are required to undergo a pre-booked gym induction prior to using the facility.

For more information and to book call 01922 417790. 

The leisure centres are also taking on new members.

 For full details visit www.sstaffs.gov.uk/leisure.

Partnership Updates

Health Passport

The Staffordshire and Stoke–on-Trent NHS Health Passport is for anyone with a learning disability, learning difficulty or autism.

It is an important document which tells NHS staff about a person’s needs such as, medication, personal details and how they like to communicate.

A Health Passport should be taken to every healthcare appointment and can help a person get the best care.

If you support or care for a person with a learning disability, there are a range of Health Passport resources to help you look after the person you care for.

Click here for further information and resources and to download a blank copy of the Health Passport to personalise with your own details, or the details of the person you support.

County lines

Staffordshire Police is raising awareness of the signs to look for that someone may be involved in County Lines. This is a term used to describe gangs or organised criminal networks (also known as OCGs) who exploit young and vulnerable people into distributing and selling illegal drugs.

Working with local communities to target offenders and support victims, Staffordshire Police need your help to identify any issues in your area. Information from witnesses and local communities is vital to building the evidence required to dismantle County Line networks.
   

If you know something, you can call the police on 101 or dial 999 in an emergency.

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously 24 hours a day by dialling 0800 555 111, or make an online report.

Click here for further information on the signs that someone is being exploited and also to make an online report.

Repair, reuse; don’t throw away!

Friends of Bilbrook are running a Repair Cafe on Saturday March 11th, 10:00am to 1:00pm.

Please help to reduce waste in South Staffordshire; repair rather than throw away and learn new skills. Every bit of action helps to reduce the impact on climate change!

Venue (Free parking available)
Bilbrook Village Hall, Joeys Lane, Bilbrook, WV8 1JL

Bring along your items for repair; the service is free but donations are welcome.

Refreshments will be available

For more information: email enquiries@friendsofbilbrook.org or call 07989 423617.

Stop idling!

Staffordshire County Council are on a mission to get as many areas as possible in Staffordshire to become anti-idling zones in March 2023 and join in for a county wide engine switch off!

Poor air quality can seriously aggravate conditions like asthma and it’s responsible for hundreds of deaths a year across Staffordshire.

This is particularly a concern around schools where young children will be breathing in the polluted air.

By anti-idling you are cutting down on the amount of pollution produced into the atmosphere resulting in cleaner air to breathe.

Switch off your engine when:

  • Charging your phone
  • Waiting for someone
  • On your lunch break
  • Making a delivery
  • Running the heater
  • Running the Aircon

You can help make a change! For further information, click here.

 

Weekly News 301

Council and district news

Go Paperless and help the Environment

Council Tax bills will be coming out soon. Why not support us to look after our environment by stopping your paper copy bills and switch to our e-billing option before February 24th.

85% of our residents have already signed up to paying by  direct debit, to join them please click here.

To check your account and avoid any queues on our phone lines please click here.

Vacancies

  • Cleaning Assistant (Telford & Wrekin Council), open application date 
  • Relief Leisure Assistants at Codsall, Wombourne, Penkridge & Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centres, open application date. 
  • Swimming Instructors, all leisure centres, open application date.   
  • Leisure Assistant at Codsall Leisure Centre – closes March 1st, 2023
  • Planning Solicitor – closes February 27th, 2023

All vacancies can be viewed in full and applied for on our new recruitment site: https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/vacancies

Neighbourhood plan

A Neighbourhood Plan is a way of helping local communities to influence the planning of the area in which they live and work. In South Staffordshire, Neighbourhood Plans can be made by parish councils, who are known as designated bodies. 

Plans are led and written by the community, not the district council. Neighbourhood plans must be in line with the National Planning Policy Framework and the overall strategic approach and policies set out in South Staffordshire’s Local Plan. 

Kinver Parish Council has reached an important stage in the preparation of their Neighbourhood Plan.  South Staffordshire Council is now running a 6-week period of public consultation on their draft plan.  The consultation, which is open to all, runs until 5pm, Monday March 6, 2023.   

Comments must be made in writing to South Staffordshire Council, at neighbourhoodplanning@sstaffs.gov.uk or by post to Community Hub, Council Offices, Wolverhampton Road, Codsall, WV8 1PX. 

For more information and to read the draft plan and supporting documents visit: Kinver Neighbourhood Plan South Staffordshire Council (sstaffs.gov.uk)

Elections voter ID: Are you ready?

The UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections.

This new requirement will apply for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday, May 4th, 2023.

Find out which forms of ID you can use and more information via this link

Leisure latest

Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre

Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre Gym Upgrade

Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centres gym is receiving a full refurbishment and will be temporarily closed from Monday, February 20th. 

The upgrade consists of re-decoration, new flooring and air conditioning units, followed by the installation of all-new Pulse Fitness cardio, fixed weights and free weights.

The gym is scheduled to re-open at the end of this month.

For more information and full details, follow Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre on Facebook.

Partnership Updates

Quit Smoking Day March 8th

Every time you try to stop smoking; you’re a step closer to success.

Get ready for #NoSmokingDay on 8th March. The benefits to your health, bank balance and family will make such a difference. It’s never too late to stop smoking.

From reducing the risk of at least 16 cancers, stroke, heart disease & dementia, your health will improve from the moment you quit.

If you live in Staffordshire and aged 40+ you can get FREE quit support and medication from @EHStaffordshire. Text: QUIT to 60777 or click here for further information.

The Friends of Bilbrook Repair Café

In partnership with South Staffs Council climate change prize; the Friends of Bilbrook are running a Repair Cafe on Saturday March 11th, 10:00am to 1:00pm.

Please help to reduce waste in South Staffordshire; repair rather than throw away and learn new skills. Every bit of action helps to reduce the impact on climate change!

Venue (Free parking available)
Bilbrook Village Hall, Joeys Lane, Bilbrook, WV8 1JL

Our volunteers will be offering:
• Minor pushbike repairs – including bike check ups
• Jewellery repairs – not gold or stone settings
• Minor sewing repairs such as hems, buttons, seams, darning woollen items, patches – no
alterations
• IT repairs – software not hardware
• Sharpening – garden tools, kitchen knives
• General repair desk – changing batteries, gluing etc.
• Electrical repairs – small electrical items
• Portable Appliance Testing – by a qualified PAT tester

Bring along your items for repair; the service is free but donations are welcome.

Refreshments will be available

For more information: email enquiries@friendsofbilbrook.org or call 07989 423617.

Free Training

Promoting Healthy Parental Relationships – understanding parental conflict (delivered via Zoom)

Target Audience – Anyone who works directly with children, young people & their parents including school pastoral staff.

This one-day course will give delegates an overview of the keep principles of healthy parental relationships and the impact of parental conflict. It is suitable for people from a range of backgrounds and will provide practical tools and resources to help delegates identify, explore and support parents in conflict.

 

  • February 28th, 2023                   9.30 a.m. – 4.30 p.m.
  • March 27th,  2023                       9.30 a.m. – 4.30 p.m.

Places can be booked by emailing delegate name, email address and organisation to children.families.training@staffordshire.gov.uk

Weekly News 300

Council and district news

Coming soon: Brand-new website

We are excited to announce the arrival of our brand-new council website.

The fresh, modern online platform will make accessing information easier and quicker than ever, with a completely revamped design and layout.

The new website will also allow more people to access it, with new features put in place to ensure the pages are easy to find and simple to understand.

We have also introduced Recite Me, an accessibility tool which allows visitors to customise the site to meet their needs. This includes tools such as a screen reader, a language translator, and numerous customisation features – for example, giving users the option to increase the size of text, alter background display colours and more.

The new platform will also make transactions smoother than ever to complete – such as the payment of council tax and the registration for garden waste collections – and will enable users to complete these at any time which best suits them.

This is just the first step of an exciting new programme of works through which South Staffordshire Council is looking to improve the customer experience when members of the public or businesses need to access our information or get in touch.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

South Staffordshire Council is committed to being a Disability Confident Employer and has been granted Level 1.

We are now working towards Level 2 as part of our Employer of Choice and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion vision.

Parish Summit

On February 10th, South Staffordshire Council hosted a Parish Summit which focused on Community Wellbeing.

The event was opened by the Leader, Councillor Roger Lees. Presentations were given by the Chairman of Staffordshire Health and Wellbeing Board, Councillor Mark Sutton, Councillor Victoria Wilson, and Tilly Flanagan, Lead Commissioner Supportive Communities.

IESE, a public sector transformation organisation, gave an update on their Cyber Security pilot.

The focus on Community Wellbeing allowed delegates the opportunity to hone in on the issues that are particularly relevant to South Staffordshire, highlighting our ageing population, dementia, and obesity, and how by working together across the three tiers we can best tackle these issues.

The event was well attended and delegates participated in a variety of workshops.

Local Skills Improvement Plan

Employers are been given the opportunity to have their say in the Local Skills improvement Plan.

The Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is a government initiative aimed at bringing together businesses in Staffordshire and education providers to improve the skills of the workforce. This process is designed to ensure all employers have a bigger say in what skills are needed in the workplace for today and to help their business survive and grow in the future.

This survey is conducted by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce In collaboration with South Staffordshire Councils Business Place Partnership. To find out more about the Business Place Partnership click here.

There are 2 options:

  1. Request a 1:2:1 discussion: answer questions – 1 – 7 (2 mins) and then someone will be in touch. This can be either a call/Teams or face-to-face meeting to discuss your personal needs and concerns.
  2. Complete the online survey (Less than 10 minutes) – answer all questions in the survey.

Should you wish to contact us before completing the survey or have further skills areas you would like to discuss please call/email us using the contact details below:

Suzanne Quinn – email suzanne.quinn@staffordshirechambers.co.uk  Tel No:- 07800 760631

Anne Jones – email:- anne.jones@staffordshirechambers.co.uk  Tel No:- 07895 578168

Vacancies

  • Planning Solicitor, closing date February 27th.
  • Leisure Assistant (full time), closing date March 1st

All vacancies can be viewed in full and applied for on our new recruitment site: https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/vacancies

Neighbourhood plan

A Neighbourhood Plan is a way of helping local communities to influence the planning of the area in which they live and work. In South Staffordshire, Neighbourhood Plans can be made by parish councils, who are known as designated bodies. 

Plans are led and written by the community, not the district council. Neighbourhood plans must be in line with the National Planning Policy Framework and the overall strategic approach and policies set out in South Staffordshire’s Local Plan. 

Kinver Parish Council has reached an important stage in the preparation of their Neighbourhood Plan.  South Staffordshire Council is now running a 6-week period of public consultation on their draft plan.  The consultation, which is open to all, runs until 5pm, Monday March 6, 2023.   

Comments must be made in writing to South Staffordshire Council, at neighbourhoodplanning@sstaffs.gov.uk or by post to Community Hub, Council Offices, Wolverhampton Road, Codsall, WV8 1PX. 

For more information and to read the draft plan and supporting documents visit: Kinver Neighbourhood Plan South Staffordshire Council (sstaffs.gov.uk)

Elections voter ID: Are you ready?

The UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections.

This new requirement will apply for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday, May 4th, 2023.

Find out which forms of ID you can use and more information via this link

Leisure latest

Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre

Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre Gym Upgrade

Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centres gym is receiving a full refurbishment and will be temporarily closed from Monday, February 20th. 

The upgrade consists of re-decoration, new flooring and air conditioning units, followed by the installation of all-new Pulse Fitness cardio, fixed weights and free weights.

The gym is scheduled to re-open at the end of this month.

For more information and full details, follow Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre on Facebook.

National Pool Lifeguard Course

Penkridge Leisure Centre are running a National Pool Lifeguard Qualification course from February 20th to 25th; places are limited.

Candidates must be 16 years + and competent swimmers.  The course will consist of a combination of theory and practical work, in and out of the pool.

For full details and to book call Penkridge Leisure Centre on 01785 714152. 

Wolves Soccer School

Wolves Soccer School is coming to Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre from February 20th to 24th, 9am-3pm.

The sessions are for children aged from reception to year 7 with 2-day, 3-day and 5-day options available. Prices start from £40.

For more information email Footballdevelopment@wolves.co.uk. 

To book visit Tickets.wolves.co.uk

February School Holiday Activity Camps

South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centres are working in partnership with @AspireActiveCamps to deliver sports-based school holiday activities for young people aged 5-14 years old.

The camps provide children with access to a wide range of fun activities in a safe and structured environment.  Active Camps are a safe, fun, flexible, and an affordable childcare solution.

Bookings can be made as full day and half day sessions (no block booking required) and are available from February 20th to 24th at Codsall and Wombourne Leisure Centres.

Aspire Active Camps provide discounts for early bird bookings, sibling and emergency service workers.

For more information and to book, click here

Partnership Updates

#phonefree

Staffordshire Police is running the #PhoneFree campaign to support the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) weeks of action on mobile phone use when driving.

Here are a few facts about mobile phone use in Staffordshire:
• In 2022, 959 people were prosecuted for the offence of driving whilst
using a mobile phone.
• The peak age of offenders is 29 to 36, the oldest driver found
committing this offence was 78 and the youngest driver was 18.
• 46% of all offenders were driving a van, lorry or HGV.

For drivers between the ages of 29 and 36, the key messages are:
• You can’t focus on two things at once, any distraction whilst driving can
be dangerous.
• You’re best to put your phone out of reach when driving to avoid
temptation – be #PhoneFree
• If you’re using your phone for any reason e.g. sat nav, changing a song
etc you must do this before setting off so you’re not tempted to touch
the screen whilst driving.
• Using your phone whilst stationary at traffic lights is still an offence.
• Using your phone whilst driving puts your life at risk and can also risk
other road users.

For commercial drivers (van, lorry, HGV), the key messages are:
• Your employer supports the mobile phone campaign and needs you to
follow the law when driving.
• You risk 6 points on your licence which may lead to you losing your
livelihood.
• Complete all your tasks before driving and avoid touching your phone or
other devices to avoid possible penalties.

Water Safety

During half term more families are expected to visit areas near canals and rivers, and the Canal & River Trust have asked for support to reach as many parents, grandparents and carers as possible with their water safety campaign.

A video and other resources have been created for parents/carers and grandparents to view/download to support discussions with their toddlers.

Click here for further information on Toddler water safety | Canal & River Trust (canalrivertrust.org.uk)

Disability and Neurodiversity Plan for Staffordshire

The Whole Life Disability team at Staffordshire County Council have been and are still currently undertaking a number of public engagement events to further support the development of a new Disability & Neurodiversity Plan for Staffordshire.

These events are drop-ins only and people are not required to book on. People are been given the opportunity to share their feedback and views on how best the County Council develops a new strategy.

There are 2 remaining scheduled events in:

  • Lichfield (Guildhall, Bore Street, WS13 6LU) –  February 27th, 2023 – 9am to 1pm
  • Cannock (Aquarius Ballroom, Pisces Suite, Victoria Shopping Park, Victoria Street, Hednesford, WS12 1BT) – March 2nd, 2023 – 11am to 2pm and then 4pm to 7pm

Click here to find out further information and help us develop a disability and neurodiversity strategy for Staffordshire – Staffordshire County Council

https://www.facebook.com/events/871211383940738/871218017273408/

https://www.facebook.com/events/1244604509482961

Pancakes for the Planet at Perton Library

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