Council and district news

Brand-new Review magazine now live

Our brand-new Review magazine is now live – featuring a range of tips, updates and more.

With articles from a variety of services, the magazine offers the latest news from a number of teams, plus small things we can all do to reduce our carbon footprint, how the council can help with cost of living challenges, and funding opportunities.

It also includes leisure centre opening times over the festive period, advice on how to recycle items over Christmas and New Year, plus other useful articles.

Read the Review via this link: The Review magazine issue 82 | South Staffordshire District Council (sstaffs.gov.uk)

South Staffordshire Resident’s Survey 2023

We are delighted that 1,143 residents responded to our invitation to tell us about their experience of living in South Staffordshire and their priorities for the area.

All parts of the district were represented in the response and there was a good representation in this mainly online survey of age groups, especially our older residents. The 2023 survey is particularly important as it will feed in to the development of the next Council Plan for 2024-28.

People like living in South Staffordshire and 89% of respondents would recommend it as a place to live – similar to figures from previous surveys and well above the national figure for this measure of 76%. When asked to comment on the reason for their answer many people made positive comments about their community.

Locally more people tend to identify as residents of their village (60.3%) than South Staffordshire (31.5%) or Staffordshire county (8.1%).

The most popular choice for why people feel that South Staffordshire is a good place to live is access to nature. They also identify low crime rates as a positive feature.

Over half of people responding to the questionnaire volunteer (50.8%), with a further 13.2% of people who would like to volunteer. The main reasons for being unable to volunteer include lack of time and caring responsibilities.

Residents were asked to rank a series of issues relating to local priorities. For Climate Change, the highest priority chosen was protection of green space. For Prosperous Communities the highest priority was cost of living. For Working Better Together the highest priority was tackling crime.

Residents were also asked to indicate what types of advice and support they need. The most popular selections were mental well-being, followed by diet and physical health and then feeling lonely and isolated.

The survey took place between 10^th October and 6^th November. It was promoted through social media and a poster campaign in community venues. Hard copy questionnaires were provided on request and included in the results. More detailed analysis of the results, including Locality based data, will be undertaken.

Polling district and Polling places review

Strawberry Lane Cemetery Community Bulb Planting Event

Personal alarms

South Staffordshire Community Safety Partnership is encouraging residents to add an extra layer of peace of mind to the run up to the festive season this winter.

With the onset of darker nights and darker mornings we’re asking residents to stay one step ahead with one of our free personal alarms for an extra layer of security.

Alarms will be available from Codsall Community Hub, South Staffordshire Council from Monday, November 27^th until Friday 22^nd December between 10am and 4pm.

Alarms are limited to one per South Staffordshire resident who calls in to collect.

Vacancies

• Assistant Team Manager, Environmental Health & Licensing, closing November 29^th
• Business Support Officer (Waste), closing December 8^th
• Waste Contracts Manager closing December 8^th
• Relief Leisure Assistant (Penkridge Leisure Centre), closing December 31^st
• Relief Swimming Instructor (all centres), closing December 15^th

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

Leisure latest

Temporary Swimming Pool Closures

Baggeridge Country Park Winter Woodland

Santa is bringing his Christmas Grotto to Baggeridge Country Park’s Winter Woodland this December.

Little ones can meet the elves, receive a gift from Father Christmas and have their picture taken with him.

There will also be live festive entertainment, a licensed bar and hot food.

The dates are as follows:

• Saturday, December, 2nd and Sunday, December 3rd
• Saturday, December 9th and Sunday, December 10th
• Saturday, December 16th and Sunday, December 17th

The events will run on each date from midday to 7pm.

Booking is essential.  Call 0330 229 4041 or visit dangeroussheep.com/events

Half price: Children’s Christmas Aspire Activity Camps

Take advantage of Black Friday deals next week on Christmas holiday children’s activity camps.

Codsall and Wombourne Leisure Centres are holding the camps between Tuesday, January 2nd, and Friday, January 5th.

Camps are available for children aged 5-14 years and are bookable as full-day or half-day camps.

Receive 50% off the normal rate as part of Aspire Sports Black Friday savings which are available between November 24th and 26th.

To find out more and to book a place, visit https://www.aaeg.co.uk/active-camps

Winter Warmer offer: Available for a limited period only

Our leisure centres are currently offering big savings on memberships as part of their Winter Warmer offer.

Available throughout November, the deal provides the opportunity to join for £15 with no further payments until the new year.

For full details visit https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/sports-and-fitness/winter-warmer-membership-offer

Partnership updates

Severn Trent Community Fund

We’re refocussing for core funding applications

You may remember that this time last year we launched a dedicated funding stream, offering support with core costs, to help charities and groups in our region. We know things are still incredibly tough, so this year we are offering another much-needed opportunity for groups to apply for support with their core costs.

How come?

You may have seen the recent National Council for Voluntary Organisations report, which gives a worrying insight into the scale of challenges charities and groups are still facing. They share that 1 in 5 charities will be forced to ‘disappear’ this winter if they are not given urgent support, leaving the people and communities they serve at risk.

We want to do everything we can to help groups and charities in our patch get through this, so we’ve committed the remainder of this year’s Severn Trent Community Fund, £500,000, to help.

Our criteria

This core funding is for groups that run for the benefit of local residents, supporting those most vulnerable, who need urgent financial help to maintain their services.

Groups can apply to be considered for a restricted grant of between £5,000 – £20,000 (depending on the size of the organisation) for 1 year to help them and our communities get through this incredibly challenging time.

This support will be available to not-for-profit organisations that:

• run for the benefit of local residents within the Severn Trent region, supporting those most vulnerable;
• have been operating since 2018 or before;
• have an annual income of £250,000 or less (averaged over the past 5 years).

For further information, application details, eligibility and conditions, please click here:   Core funding | Severn Trent Community Fund | About Us | Severn Trent Water (stwater.co.uk)

Grow a tree for 23