Weekly News 348
Council and district news
Elections
Your vote is yours alone. Whether you vote at a polling station, by post, or via a proxy, it’s your decision. It’s illegal for anyone, even a partner, family member or friend, to influence you to vote against your will.
Electoral fraud can take many different forms, including:
- undue influence – no one is allowed to intimidate you into voting a certain way, such as by threatening you with injury, damage or harm.
- bribery – it’s illegal to offer bribes such as money or gifts, directly or indirectly, to persuade you to vote a certain way or not to vote at all.
- personation – no one is allowed to pretend to be you in order to use your vote, whether it’s a postal vote or at the polling station. In addition, no one is allowed to vote by pretending to be someone who has died or is completely fictional.
- applying for a vote under false pretences – it’s illegal to apply for a proxy, or postal vote, using false details or under false pretences.
- asking you to show your completed ballot paper – it is an offence for someone to directly or indirectly persuade you to display your ballot paper after you have completed it so they can see who you have voted for.
If someone tries to take the vote of anyone you know, call us anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report it online
Don’t forget to register to vote for elections this year.
You must be registered by midnight on April 16th to be able to vote on May 2nd. You can apply online at Register to vote – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Working at a polling station or unable to get to the polling station on polling day? Apply for postal vote by 5pm on April 17th online at Apply for a postal vote – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or proxy vote by 5pm, April 24th at Apply for a proxy vote – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) If you are planning to vote in a polling station, remember you need to bring Photo ID to vote. If you don’t have any photo ID don’t worry you, can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate online at Apply for photo ID to vote (called a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). If you have any questions about voting please speak to a member of the elections team. |
FSB Business Bootcamp ‘Supercharging your Sales’!
This is a free event which starts with a networking breakfast and then into a day of short, sharp seminars and networking.
You can attend both the breakfast and the seminar sessions, or just one or either. You’ll be able to pick up some great tips and information on how to upscale your engagement and increase your customer base.
Each of the speakers will be announced over the coming weeks and places will be limited.
The registration page is now open so if you are able to attend please do book to secure your place: FSB Business Bootcamp: Supercharge Your Sales | FSB, The Federation of Small Businesses
Business partnership networking event: inspiring tomorrow’s workforce
South Staffordshire Council recently organised, in partnership with the Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Skills Hub and the Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub and successfully hosted the highly anticipated Business Partnership Networking Event – inspiring tomorrows workforce.
The event, held at the picturesque Weston Park, proved to be a resounding success with a sold-out crowd of industry professionals and educators. Following the values of our Business Partnership; the event aimed to bridge the gap between local businesses and the future workforce, providing a platform for meaningful connections and insightful discussions. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with influential leaders, industry experts and innovators, gaining valuable knowledge into various careers paths. The Business Partnership unites businesses and public sector partners to network, share knowledge and best practice. Featuring an impressive line up of speakers, who shared their experiences, providing inspiration and guidance to the next generation of professionals and how we can implement this as business providers. The event also included a mini market, which provided an open network for all guests to get further guidance on potential employees, to discuss career prospects and establish valuable connections. Click here to watch the full video. As South Staffordshire Council continue to support growth and development of the local business community, be sure to keep up to date with our latest events by joining our Business Partnership. To find out more about joining our Business Partnership, please email: businesspartnership@sstaffs.gov.uk. |
Vacancies
- Planning Solicitor, open closing date
- Full Time Leisure Assistant, Codsall Leisure Centre, closing April 18th
- UKSPF Caseworker (Fixed Term), closing April 19th
- Street Scene Operative Level 5 (Tree Surgeon), closing April 26th
All vacancies can be viewed in full and applied for on our recruitment site: https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/vacancies
Leisure latest
Shape Up for Summer – Now On!
Join Cheslyn Hay, Codsall or Penkridge Leisure Centres this month and receive April and May for just £20.
The leisure centres provide everything you need to get summer-ready:
- Fully equipped gyms
- Exercise and well-being classes
- Studio cycling
- Swimming
- Toning suites
To sign up, pop into your nearest leisure centre or join online…don’t delay, the earlier you join, the more you save.
For full details, click here.
Enjoy savings with the new Leisure Advantage Card
Leisure centre users can now sign up and enjoy savings of up to 10% off on individual activities. Non-members can sign up at their nearest leisure centre at a nominal cost of just £5 for an adult and £2.50 per child with savings then available for an entire year. For full details, click here. |
Swimming Teachers Association training courses
If you are aged 16 years+, why not train to become a pool lifeguard. Penkridge Leisure Centre is holding a week-long training course during May half term.
National Pool Lifeguard Qualification: Penkridge Leisure Centre, May 27th – June 1st , 9am-5.30pm The cost of the course is £280 (£100 deposit required on booking). For more information go to https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/sports-and-fitness/training-and-courses To check availability and book onto the course, email trainingacademy@sstaffs.gov.uk Funded Local Training Available: See if you’re eligible for funded training – call 01902 696228 or email peopleandskills@sstaffs.gov.uk |
Gentle exercise in Featherstone
South Staffordshire Council want to encourage healthy aging and an active retirement.
As part of our Health and Wellbeing in the community, a gentle exercise class which is aimed at older people takes place at Featherstone Community Centre on Tuesdays at 10am.
The class is friendly, welcoming and suitable for all abilities with tea and coffee available after the class.
For further information, please contact Louise Colman on 07939631131 or email louisecolman07@gmail.com
Partnership updates
Introducing Tim Norbury, Staffordshire Police
Hello, I’m Tim Norbury, your Local Policing Commander for South Staffordshire.
I have been within the Police service for 15 years and have experienced a multitude of differing roles at various ranks, in a number of different locations across Staffordshire. The opportunities I have enjoyed have provided me with experience and skills that I believe will be of benefit to South Staffordshire. I am very passionate about Policing and my ambition is to improve in all areas of our business. My current priorities for South Staffordshire are:
These priorities are identified from early discussions I have held with partners, community representatives and our community safety partnership, all of whom have been extremely welcoming and are keen to continue working with our service so that we can collectively provide an outstanding service to the general public of South Staffordshire. I have already been out and about in many of the parishes in South Staffordshire and will be attending various events over the coming weeks and months. If you see me ‘out and about’ don’t be shy and feel free to say hello or have a conversation about concerns or good news in your area. I will continue to keep you informed and will hopefully see some of you soon. |
Parents and volunteers take on the idlers!
On Monday, April 9th and Tuesday, April 10th Bilbrook Green Group carried out an anti-idle campaign outside of Lane Green Primary School between 2.30pm and 3.30pm each day.
The council’s lead officer in air quality, Wendy Green, joined them on Tuesday to see how things were going. Several people were there to support the campaign ranging from volunteers, parents, PCSO’s and local Councillors Gary Burnett and Fiona Hopkins. Monday was clearly a success as by Tuesday the group went from having to ask 15 car drivers to switch off their engines to 5. In addition, there were no dangerously parked cars that had to be moved on by the PCSO’s on Tuesday. The air quality throughout the district of South Staffordshire is of a good quality. However, there is always room for improvement and campaigns such as these really help focus the public attention on simple things that can be done to help everyone. If you would like to know more about the benefits of anti-idling and the legislation in place to support it, click here. |
Mobile library route
Staffordshire Library services have updated their mobile library route.
For fortnightly dates to Shareshill, Featherstone, Pattingham, Essington and Coven, click here Route 7 (Week 2- Tuesday) – Staffordshire County Council For fortnightly visits to Wheaton Aston, click here Route 1 (Week 1- Monday) – Staffordshire County Council |