Council and district news

• Council job vacancies

  • Street Scene Operative Level 5, Tree Surgeon – closing 5pm on July 15th.
  • Environmental Health Officer (Fixed Term) – closing midnight on July 3rd.
  • Biffa Class 2 Driver, Municipal Waste Collection – open application date.
  • Swimming Instructors, all leisure centres – open application date.  

  For more information on all vacancies and for details on how to apply, click here

  Wanted: Assistant parish clerk

  Assistant Parish Clerk – nine hours per week.

  The role of the Assistant Clerk is to provide administrative support to the Parish Clerk and the Parish Council.

  Closing date: July 8th at midday.

  For more information, click here

  Waste and Recycling

  What can I recycle in the blue bag and blue bin?

  Thank you to everyone for using your new blue bag to recycle paper and card. Did you know we have an online Recycling Finder where you can search by item to find out which bin to use? Why not give it a try today: www.sstaffs.gov.uk/recyclingfinder

  Garden Waste Collection Service 

  The new garden waste collection year starts in just over a week on Monday, July 4th. If you have not signed up already, you need to sign up now to continue having your green bin emptied. Sign up online today at: www.sstaffs.gov.uk/gardenwaste

  Leisure latest

  Summer holiday activity camps: Book now

  South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centres are working in partnership with Aspire Active Camps to provide children’s holiday activities this summer. 

  Available to those aged 5 to 14 as part-day and full day bookings, the camps provide access to sports-based activities.

  As an added bonus, all bookings will also receive FREE leisure centre passes, providing access to the swimming pools, gyms, exercise classes and day passes. We also offer discounts for early bird bookings, siblings and emergency service workers.

  Places are limited and bookings are now being taken. For more details and to book, visit https://www.aspire-sports.co.uk/active-camps

  Holiday Activities and Food Scheme

  Our leisure centres will be providing local children who are in receipt of free school meals access to free activity camps and food throughout the summer. Schools will be issuing eligible families a letter between now and the beginning of July, providing unique access codes for specific families. Registration for the scheme opens on July 4th. To find out more and to register, click here Once families have registered, they can book their activities at https://www.aspire-sports.co.uk/active-camps and insert their unique code at checkout.

  The Space Scheme

  We will be providing discounts this summer to young people aged 8 to 17, thanks to funding from Staffordshire Space Scheme. 

  The discounts will provide local children access to swimming, gym sessions and 3G pitch hire throughout the summer.

  More details will follow in due course. To stay informed follow your nearest leisure centre on Facebook or subscribe to receive free e-bulletins at www.sstaffs.gov.uk/alerts

  Could you be a lifesaver?

  South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centres provide a range of courses to train people to become lifeguards, swimming teachers and water assistants.

  For full details on courses, click here

  South Staffordshire Wellbeing Walks

  A programme of weekly instructor-led Wellbeing Walks take place around the district, all of which are free to join.

  The walks vary in length and difficulty, but are a great way of improving your health and meeting new people.

  Baggeridge Country Park provides a monthly Wellbeing Walk, on the first Tuesday of each month which is a long and more challenging walk, suitable for people who already do regular walking.

  There is also a regular weekly walk which runs every Thursday morning at 10am, again for people who are fairly used to walking and can manage a continuous walk of around 90 minutes.

  Finally, another monthly walk takes place on the first Thursday of each month. This walk is a shorter, steady-paced walk suitable for people who are new to walking or for those who cannot manage more than an hour.

  For more information, visit click here

  Partnership updates

  Beat the heat

  Summer is well and truly here – and though many of us enjoy the warmer months, it is important to take steps to ensure the hot weather does not make you or your loved ones unwell.

  Some tips include:

  • Check on others: Check on older people or sick neighbours, family or friends every day during hot weather.
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol. If you need to travel, ensure you take water with you.
  • Avoid extreme physical exertion: If you can’t avoid strenuous outdoor activity, such as sport, DIY or gardening, keep it for cooler parts of the day – for example, in the early morning or evening.
  • On car journeys: Ensure that babies, children, older people, or pets are not left alone in parked cars, which can quickly overheat.

  For more information on staying safe in the summer, click here

  Summer outdoor fire safety

  Now the hot weather and summer is approaching, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is encouraging the local community to enjoy our green spaces both safely and responsibly.

  Grass Fires / Woodland Fire Prevention Tips:

  • Never throw cigarette ends out of car windows.
  • Make sure cigarettes are put out properly and disposed of in dedicated bins.
  • Take your rubbish home or put it in a nearby bin.
  • Don’t leave glass bottles lying on the ground. Sunlight shining through glass can start a fire.
  • Don’t have barbecue or open fires in the countryside, they can easily set fire to the ground and spread.
  • Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children and young people.

  If you see a fire

  If you find a fire in the countryside don’t attempt to tackle it, call 999 and ask for the fire service immediately. Pass as much information about the location as possible, use the app What 3 Words if you have it to pinpoint the exact spot.

  If you see a campfire or barbecue which has spread to the ground or surrounding area, call 999 and ask for the fire service immediately.

  Become an on-call firefighter for your local community

  Staffordshire Fire and Rescue is currently recruiting for on-call firefighters in Penkridge, Brewood, Bilbrook & Codsall, Wombourne & Kinver.

  On-call firefighters are paid and provide an emergency response in their local area, they need to respond to a pager and get to their nearest station within five minutes of being alerted.

  A range of shifts are available with many people choosing to be an on-call firefighter to either supplement their existing income or because they just want to serve and protect their local community.

  Many have existing jobs and work their shifts around their other employment or some have flexible jobs where they work from home or their employer allows them to be released from work to attend emergency incidents.

  As well as responding to emergencies, on-call firefighters can also get involved in community fire safety initiatives in their local area.

  For more information, click here

  Discover your library this summer

  Staffordshire Libraries are getting into science and innovation for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, Gadgeteers.

  The free event launches on Saturday, July 9th.

  How to take part at your local library:

  • Visit your local Staffordshire library to sign up for the challenge.
  • You will receive a starter pack containing all the items you need to begin your reading adventure – including a pull-out poster and stickers. Take out three books and get reading.
  • Return your first three books and borrow another three books. Receive your next set of stickers.
  • When you have read these three books bring them back to your local Staffordshire Library, and collect your completers certificate, medal and bookmark.

  Visit www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Libraries/ to discover more about libraries in your area.