Karen Daker

This week’s news from around the Council.

• COVID-19 update – Key Messages
  • We’re still in a national lockdown. It is against the law to meet socially with family or friends unless they are part of your household or support bubble. It’s really tough, but if we all follow the rules we can help reduce the spread and save lives.
  • We all need to continue to follow guidance on Hands. Face. Space. This will help to keep you and others safe – even if you’ve had the vaccine.
  • If you are making essential visits to places where there are other people, get rapid tested regularly.
  • If you’re worried about getting tested for Covid-19 and having to self-isolate, you may be entitled to a one-off payment of £500 through the Test and Trace support payment scheme.
  • You cannot leave home for recreational or leisure purposes (such as for a picnic or a social meeting).
  • The police can take action against you if you meet in larger groups. This includes breaking up illegal gatherings and issuing fines.
  • Stay at home and if you do need to go out for essentials, remember, Hands. Face. Space. Test.
  • Did you know that you must still follow guidance around #HandsFaceSpace even if you’ve had your Covid-19 vaccine? Wear a face covering, keep your distance and wash your hands regularly.
  • Click here for more information on #doingourbit to stop the spread.

• The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Elections, the County Council Elections and Local By-Elections.
  On Thursday 6 May 2021 residents in South Staffordshire will have their say on who represents them at the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Elections, the County Council Elections and Local By-Elections. Voters will have a choice between in person and absent voting. Postal and proxy voting will be supported, and proxy voting rules changed so that those affected by Covid-19 in the days before the poll can still vote. The Government is setting out how existing public health regulations and guidance apply to essential voting activities and will be publishing additional guidance on the specific application of social distancing and other regulations to their activities, including nominations and campaigning.

South Staffordshire’s Elections team are already working on plans to help residents stay safe while casting their vote. A series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the upcoming elections have been published on the Council Website. The website will be updated with further information as it becomes available. Information can also be found on the website of the Electoral Commission.

• Good News Story – The Building Better Opportunities programme

The Building Better Opportunities programme, which is funded by The Big Lottery and European Social Fund, originally run from January 2017 to December 2019, but due to its success of supporting people to move closer to work, an extension was awarded until September 2022. More recently, the programme has reviewed the contracts that have performed well, despite Covid-19 restrictions and have selected the Stafford and South Staffordshire project as one to be extended to June 2023. If you would like more information on the BBO programme, please email BBOstaffs@gmail.com

• Youth Boxfit exercise class
  Children aged 10-16 years old can access a FREE 40-minute Boxfit class every Tuesday 4.30-5.10pm. Places are limited so advanced booking is essential. Book a Youth Boxfit exercise class here.

• New online exercise classes
  Live exercise classes are available to members and non-members. Members are entitled to free access and non-members can take part for £4 per class. By joining our online membership package, you can access unlimited classes for £12 per month.  Find out more about the online class membership here.
• On Demand classes now available
  Leisure centre members can now access online classes ‘on-demand’ which means workouts are recorded so that you can workout at a time that suits you. Find out more about the on-demand sessions here.

Regular information

• Next week’s Council Committee/Panel meetings

There are no meetings for the week commencing 15 February 2021.

Members of the public can virtually attend these meetings via Microsoft Teams. In the news section at the bottom of the Council’s website, you will find the relevant news item that will include a link to enable you to join.

Everyone is encouraged to submit news items, please email: comms@sstaffs.gov.uk

This week’s news from around the Council.

• COVID-19 update – Key Messages
  • We’re still in a national lockdown. It is against the law to meet socially with family or friends unless they are part of your household or support bubble. It’s really tough, but if we all follow the rules, we can help reduce the spread and save lives.
  • We all need to continue to follow guidance on Hands. Face. Space. This will help to keep you and others safe – even if you’ve had the vaccine.
  • If you are making essential visits to places where there are other people, get rapid tested regularly.
  • If you’re worried about getting tested for Covid-19 and having to self-isolate, you may be entitled to a one-off payment of £500 through the Test and Trace support payment scheme.
  • You cannot leave home for recreational or leisure purposes (such as for a picnic or a social meeting).
  • The police can take action against you if you meet in larger groups. This includes breaking up illegal gatherings and issuing fines.
  • Stay at home and if you do need to go out for essentials, remember, Hands. Face. Space. Test.
  • Did you know that you must still follow guidance around #HandsFaceSpace even if you’ve had your Covid-19 vaccine? Wear a face covering, keep your distance and wash your hands regularly.
  • Click here for more information on #doingourbit to stop the spread.

• Workplace transmissions has been highlighted as an area of concern. The Office of National Statistics will be publishing data on this.

• Vaccinations – there is, nationally, a very low uptake of the COVID-19 Vaccination amongst the BAME groups. Please encourage people from these groups to take the vaccination. 

• The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Elections, the County Council Elections and Local By-Elections.
  On Thursday 6 May 2021 residents in South Staffordshire will have their say on who represents them at the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Elections, the County Council Elections and Local By-Elections. Voters will have a choice between in person and absent voting. Postal and proxy voting will be supported, and proxy voting rules changed so that those affected by Covid-19 in the days before the poll can still vote. The Government is setting out how existing public health regulations and guidance apply to essential voting activities and will be publishing additional guidance on the specific application of social distancing and other regulations to their activities, including nominations and campaigning.

South Staffordshire’s Elections team are already working on plans to help residents stay safe while casting their vote. A series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the upcoming elections have been published on the Council Website. The website will be updated with further information as it becomes available. Information can also be found on the website of the Electoral Commission.

• Community Safety – Catalytic Converter theft is on the increase in the district. It only takes a few seconds for criminals to saw them off. They are targeted for the metals they contain which includes palladium and platinum which has a growing value and can be re-used in jewellery.

Please see the link for suggestions on how to protect your vehicle and link for information on a catalytic converter marking pack.

Please share the information to residents and through your contacts on social media.

• Action for Children Survey

This Action for Children survey is specifically for young people, so please share this with your family and friends, your children and grandchildren and encourage them to have their say by taking part in this survey.

Action for Children, Children’s Emotional Well-being Service for Staffordshire, have created a survey for young people in Staffordshire to have their say on how they would like to receive information regarding Emotional and Well-being issues they might face. Action for Children are looking at developing their website and social media to ensure that it’s easily accessible and has the information that young people need.

Please find the link below. The closing date is 22^nd February 2021

Please click on this link to take part in the Action for Children Survey

• Council Job Vacancies – Upcoming Vacancies
• Career Graded Senior Planning Officers x2
• Senior Arboricultural Officer
• Strategic Projects Assistant Team Manager

Details of these Vacancies can be found shortly on the Council website

Regular information

• Next week’s Council Committee/Panel meetings 

• Full Council – Tuesday 23 February 2021 – 7.00 pm – Public virtual meeting via Teams.
• Personal Development Review and Appointments Panel – Thursday, 25 February 2021 – 12.30 pm – Public virtual meeting via Teams
• Lottery Advisory Panel – Thursday, 25 February 2021 – 3.00 pm – Public virtual meeting via Teams

Members of the public can virtually attend these meetings via Microsoft Teams. In the news section at the bottom of the Council’s website, you will find the relevant news item that will include a link to enable you to join.

Everyone is encouraged to submit news items, please email: comms@sstaffs.gov.uk

With the country in a third national lockdown and new more virulent strains of Covid-19 circulating, it is more important than ever to control the spread of the virus in our communities to protect or vulnerable residents and health and care services.  It is currently against the law for people to be outside of their home without good reason, but some people do need to leave home for:
• Work where they cannot work from home
• Essential shopping for food or medicine
• To provide care for someone vulnerable

Staffordshire County Council is offering these people regular rapid tests, otherwise known as Lateral Flow Tests, to help find and isolate cases of Covid-19 and minimise the spread of the virus.  Rapid testing allows people without symptoms to get tested and receive their results in under an hour. This is important as 1 in 3 people infected with coronavirus do not show symptoms but may be infectious and can pass it on to others.

The NHS has made a fantastic start rolling out the Covid-19 vaccine to eligible groups, but it will be months before the full benefit of the vaccine programme is truly felt with enough people vaccinated. That is why regular testing is vital in the meantime.  In the short term people are encourage to get tested regularly if they cannot work from home or need to make essential visits. In the longer term, as lockdown is eased, regular testing of everyone will be one way to minimise the spread of the virus.

There is at least one community testing centre in each district and borough and more are being set up in some of larger businesses and housing schemes. This makes testing quick and convenient. For people with positive results it allows contact tracing to begin immediately. For people who test negative they can get their result right away.

People without symptoms can book a test by visiting www.staffordshire.gov.uk/testing.

People with symptoms of Covid-19 such as a new cough, high temperature and loss of taste and smell, need to continue to book a test via www.gov.uk/coroanvirus or by calling 119.

Already, thousands of people across the county have had a rapid test to protect their families, friends, businesses and communities. Please return the favour.

This week’s news from around the Council.

• COVID-19 update – Key Messages
  • We’re still in a national lockdown. It is against the law to meet socially with family or friends unless they are part of your household or support bubble. It’s really tough, but if we all follow the rules we can help reduce the spread and save lives.
  • We all need to continue to follow guidance on Hands. Face. Space. This will help to keep you and others safe – even if you’ve had the vaccine.
  • If you are making essential visits to places where there are other people, get rapid tested regularly.
  • If you’re worried about getting tested for Covid-19 and having to self-isolate, you may be entitled to a one-off payment of £500 through the Test and Trace support payment scheme.
  • You cannot leave home for recreational or leisure purposes (such as for a picnic or a social meeting).
  • The police can take action against you if you meet in larger groups. This includes breaking up illegal gatherings and issuing fines.
  • Stay at home and if you do need to go out for essentials, remember, Hands. Face. Space. Test.
  • Did you know that you must still follow guidance around #HandsFaceSpace even if you’ve had your Covid-19 vaccine? Wear a face covering, keep your distance and wash your hands regularly.
  • Click here for more information on #doingourbit to stop the spread.

• Staffordshire Police is inviting residents and businesses to take part in a new survey
  The ‘Your police. Your voice.’ survey, which is open until Monday 8 February provides the public with an opportunity to share their views on crime and policing locally. This survey will assist the police force to achieve its vision of a safer Staffordshire and will result in a better understanding of the issues which matter most to local communities to ensure that services and resources are being delivered in the best way to address people’s concerns. As this is the first public confidence survey for a number of years we’d be grateful of your support in sharing this survey with your audiences.
• #CountyLines campaign
  A County Lines campaign is running between Monday 1 February and Sunday 14 February to support the aim of reducing criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults in Staffordshire. South Staffordshire Community Safety Partnership is supporting the Staffordshire Police campaign to highlight the signs of County Lines.

Are your children, or are you aware of children, spending more time online during the national lockdown? At the moment, there are far less opportunities for face-to-face grooming of children and young people so instead criminal are using online methods. Children can be recruited to distribute drugs in return for money, mobiles, credit, expensive clothing, jewellery, or other items. Please find more information on the #CountyLines campaign here

Please help by sharing their #CountyLines posts on their Facebook: @Staffordshire Police and Twitter: @StaffsPolice

• Star Count and the AONB Dark Skies Project
  This February the AONB, together with the countryside charity CPRE, are inviting everyone to take part in Star Count 2021, a fun and easy way to enjoy the wonders of the universe. If you live in or around Cannock Chase AONB, we need your help to count the stars. The project is due to Cannock Chase having the highest levels of light pollution of all England’s 34 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). Find out more information on the Star Count here. 

• New online exercise classes
  Additional live online classes have started this week. Classes are currently free to leisure centre members.  The classes are, however, also available for non-members on a pay as you go basis or an online class membership is available. 
• On Demand classes now available
  In addition to providing 33 live exercise classes per week, we are delighted to be able to now offer users access to lots of ‘On Demand’ workouts which everyone can do at their own convenience. The on-demand classes are available for leisure centre members and online class members.  Access the on-demand sessions here. 
• Be kind to yourself

It’s more important than ever that during lockdown we interact with people, keep positive and look after our minds.  For more information about how you can help to stay positive and lift your mood, visit Every Mind Matters 

• The benefits of Meditation

Meditation has so many benefits:

• Reduces stress
• Helps to cure headaches
• Boosts energy levels
• Increases creativity
• Helps to boost self-esteem and positivity

South Staffordshire’s Leisure Centres provide some live and online classes which incorporate meditation:

• Stretch and Meditation with Yvonne – Wednesdays 6.45-7.25pm
• Yoga and meditation with Hansa – Fridays 5-5.40pm
• For more information on our online classes here
• CCU Recruitment Opportunity
  The Staffordshire Civil Contingencies Unit is currently recruiting for a Civil Contingencies Officer. It would be appreciated if you could help by circulating the opportunity. The closing date for applications is the 14 February 2021, advert and full details for the CCU Recruitment Opportunity are available online.

Regular information

• Next week’s Council Committee/Panel meetings
• Cabinet – Tuesday, 9 February 2021 – 2.00 pm – public virtual meeting via Teams.
• Audit & Risk Committee – Tuesday, 9 February 2021 – 4.00 pm – public virtual meeting via Teams.

Members of the public can virtually attend these meetings via Microsoft Teams – in the news section at the bottom of the Council’s website, you will find the relevant news item that will include a link to enable you to join. 

Everyone is encouraged to submit news items, please email: comms@sstaffs.gov.uk

Dark starry skies are a magical sight, but glare from streetlights and buildings can mean that many of us don’t get to see them.Each year, CPRE asks the nation to help measure light pollution in their area by getting starry-eyed with us and counting visible stars. Ready to help out and have fun?

This week’s news from around the Council.  

• Good news story – Crooked House Tidy-up

South Staffordshire Planning Enforcement Team have been working with Wienerberger Ltd, the private landowners of the lane leading to the famous ‘Crooked House’ in Himley, South Staffordshire.  The location has historically been a target for fly tippers and so Weinerberger Ltd were contacted to arrange clearance and securing of the private land.  South Staffordshire Council would like to thank Wienerberger Ltd for their efforts to clear the location. View some photos here 

• Healthwatch Staffordshire

Healthwatch Staffordshire have some information and requests that we hope you will find to be of interest, and that you might be able to share with family, friends, and colleagues.

Firstly, they have a Primary Care survey where they are seeking feedback across Staffordshire of experiences of primary care in the last 12 months. The survey is completely anonymous, and access to the survey can be found here. Your participation will be very much valued and appreciated.

In addition, they are very pleased to be offering a series of virtual community meetings via Zoom. These will take place bi-weekly on a Wednesday morning at 10.30am and will have the same topic repeated the following week on a Thursday afternoon at 2.00pm.

The next meeting commencing Wednesday 10 February is on the topic of Dentistry:

• Join Zoom Meeting (Wednesday 10 February at 10.30am)
• Meeting ID: 846 9512 0332
• Passcode: 730042

The repeated meeting on Thursday 18 February at 2.00pm with the same topic can be accessed below:

• Join Zoom Meeting (Thursday 18 February at 2.00pm)
• Meeting ID: 843 3761 3944
• Passcode: 016192

Finally, should anyone who is not already a member of Healthwatch Staffordshire wish to join their mailing list as a member and receive their quarterly newsletters, updates, reports and immediate access to future surveys, please contact Ian Wright at ian.wright@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk   

• South Staffordshire Community Lottery

Good causes in South Staffordshire need your support. One way you can help is by buying a lottery ticket in our weekly Community Lottery – as well as supporting local good causes, you might even win a cash prize ranging from £25 up to a jackpot of £25,000. To buy a lottery ticket, simply register on the website or telephone 01902 213777. 

• New Online Exercise Classes

South Staffordshire’s Leisure centres have expanded their online exercise class programme to now offer 33 classes per week. Classes are available to members and non-members and can be accessed on a pay as you go basis at a cost of £4 per class.  An online membership is also available for £12 per month which provides unlimited access.  Join in January and receive your first month at half price.

• Latest leisure news

Subscribe for free to receive the latest news and developments from your local leisure centre. 

Regular information

• Next week’s Council Committee/Panel meetings

o    Wellbeing Select Committee – Tuesday, 2 February 2021 – 5.00 pm – virtual meeting via
Teams.

o    Asset Scrutiny Panel – Wednesday, 3 February 2021 – 2.00 pm – virtual meeting via Teams.

Members of the public can virtually attend these meetings via Microsoft Teams – in the news section at the bottom of the Council’s website, you will find the relevant news item that will include a link to enable you to join.

Everyone is encouraged to submit news items, please email: comms@sstaffs.gov.uk

This event is an online business support session to explain what coronavirus support grants are available and how to apply.

Here is the link where businesses can sign up to attend www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-access-coronavirus-support-grants-tickets-138452981595?platform=hootsuite

This week’s news from around the Council.

• COVID-19 update – Community testing
  The community testing will involve the new rapid flow tests, which can provide results in around 20-30 minutes. Testing is available for people without symptoms, who are worried they have been in contact with an infectious case. This might include:
  • Children and their parents, where there has been a positive case within their school.
  • Employees, where there has been a case at their work.
  • If you have come into contact with someone who has symptoms of Covid-19.

In addition to the semi-permanent testing site at Wombourne Library, there will be four pop
up Covid-19 community testing sites in the District this weekend, at the following locations:

          Saturday 23rd January 2021

• South Staffordshire – Huntington, Cannock Rugby Club 10am – 12:30pm
• South Staffordshire – Essington Community Centre 2pm – 4:30pm

Sunday 24th January 2021

• South Staffordshire – Coven Memorial Hall, Coven 10am -12:30pm
• South Staffordshire – Great Wyrley Scout and Guide Hut 2pm – 4:30pm

Residents can pre book their slot here

For residents who have symptoms of Covid-19, please do not attend this testing. You need to book through the national portal here.

• Introduction to the Locality Enablers.

Six locality enabler roles have been created to help deliver on the Council Localities+ agenda. Their role is to drive forward the development and delivery of key council priorities, to consult and engage with Members, Parishes, residents and businesses to establish locality priorities and to work alongside Locality Forums to identify and develop projects and services.

Locality Podcasts will be a regular feature and the first of these introduces all Enablers and how they will contribute to Localities+ agenda. These podcasts aim to update you on what’s been happening on the Localities + agenda, a summary of the recent Locality Forums, what the Locality Enablers have been up to and also the opportunity for you to email in questions for Enablers to answer in the future podcasts. Click here Listen to the first podcast.

• Raising awareness of 2021 Census
  Please follow @Census2021 on Facebook and Twitter, share their content and help raise awareness of the up and coming Census which will take place on 21 March 2021. Ultimately, it ensures funds are correctly invested in emergency services, health care, school places and other vital services.  While results will be available the following year, all personal records will be locked away for 100 years and kept safe for future generations.
• Launch of ‘Your police. Your voice’ public survey

Staffordshire Police is inviting residents and businesses across the county to take part in a new survey designed to help the force achieve its vision of a safer Staffordshire. The survey launches on Friday 22 January and closes on Monday 8 February. It will be carried out on a rolling quarterly basis which will enable the force to get a better understanding of the issues which matter most to local communities. Click here to complete the survey.

• South Staffordshire Community Lottery – Ranked 5th best performing lottery in 2020
  Out of 80 plus lotteries that are managed by our external lottery provider Gatherwell, the South Staffordshire Community Lottery has been ranked 5^th, with the biggest percentage increase in players in 2020. Tickets this week have reached an all-time high, so a huge thank you to all of our lottery supporters. This is great news for local charities, good causes and community groups who have seen their traditional means of fundraising pause due to the pandemic. The lottery is the perfect solution for local groups to continue with their fund raising during these challenging times. It’s free for any good cause, charity or community group who benefit the local community to join, so if you know a local good cause who could benefit from this safe and secure way of fund raising, please tell them to join the lottery family today. Please click here for more information.
• Good News Story – South Staffordshire’s Christmas Fund

Just before Christmas, South Staffordshire Council awarded 23 Community Groups and 7 Parishes, up to £400 each to help support the most vulnerable in our communities. Some used the fund to send out Christmas hampers or to deliver a Christmas Day lunch and New Year’s Eve supper. Here are some heart-warming comments from the volunteers who supported Perton Parish Council’s proposals:

• The lady was whooping up and down her path
• The resident was moved to tears
• He laid a table for the first time this year to sit and enjoy the meal
• It’s brought smiles and happiness to many 

Click here to view some photos. We will continue to add photos upon receipt from the applicant.

• Live and Online Exercise Classes

Access up to 26 live and online exercise classes per week, receiving your first month at half price if you join in January.  Non-members receive their first class free of charge or alternatively join the online class membership this month to be eligible for our half price offer.  Please click here for more information.  

Regular information

• Next week’s Council Committee/Panel meetings
• Planning Committee – Tuesday, 26 January 2021 – 6.30 pm – Public virtual meeting via Teams. 

Everyone is encouraged to submit news items, please email: comms@sstaffs.gov.uk

This week’s news from around the Council.

• COVID-19

Residents who need to be out and about in South Staffordshire during the lockdown are being urged to have regular Covid-19 tests, even if they do not have symptoms. With cases recently hitting record seven-day rates of 500 per 100,000 population, the plan aims to tackle the “silent spreaders,” people who carry the virus but have no symptoms.  If you have NO symptoms you can book a test  at https://staffordshire.zipporah.co.uk/TrackAndTrace/. You are allowed to leave home to take a test.

If there is no availability, you can book a traditional test at one of the national sites at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus and choose the option “my council has asked me to book a test.” Anyone with symptoms should only book a national test. Anyone who is self-isolating as a close contact should only book a test if they develop symptoms and this should be through the national system only.

The county council is also identifying areas each week which have seen the biggest increase and everyone in these areas will be asked to get tested. Details of the national restrictions can be found at www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

For the latest updates about council services, guidance and support, visit:

www.sstaffs.gov.uk or sign up to receive regular eAlert updates at https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/myaccount.

• Advice on accessing green spaces safely
  On 13 January, the Government updated the guidance for using green spaces safely to reflect the new national restrictions that came into force in England on 6 January.

Members of the public should minimise the time spent outside their home but can leave their home to exercise. This should be limited to once per day, and they should not travel outside their local area.

You can exercise in a public outdoor place:

• By yourself
• With the people you live with
• In your support bubble (if you are legally permitted to form one)
• In a childcare bubble when providing childcare
• Or, when on your own, with one person from another household

Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-on-accessing-green-spaces-safely

• Community Hub

Click here for this week’s update about the Community Hub which contains building news and a selection of photos.

• Covid Marshals
  Our Covid Marshals are continuing to work tirelessly out in the District and are observing high streets, parks, open spaces, schools and shops to ensure that all restrictions are being adhered to.
• Census 2021
  The census will be held on 21 March 2021 and results will be available the following year. For the first time, the census will be run primarily online, making it easy for most people to complete the questionnaire on any device, but paper questionnaires will still be available for those who need them. All census staff will operate in line with the Government’s latest Covid-19 guidance.

To reach your local census engagement manager/community adviser, contact: Kirat Raj Singh – kiratraj.singh91@field.census.gov.uk who will be helping  community leaders within the District raise awareness of the census and the value to residents in taking part. The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that provides a snapshot of households in England and Wales, helping to plan and fund public services. Ultimately, it ensures funds are invested in emergency services, health care, school places and other vital services. For more information visit census.gov.uk. 

• Tree Team
  South Staffs Tree Services have been working on many private jobs over the last 3 months and have received very positive feedback from customers on the quality and price.
• Envirocrime
  Our Envirocrime Team are committed to identifying fly-tipping offenders. In December, we issued 5 fixed penalty notices (£200 each). 

• January offer: Online exercise classes

Whilst our leisure centres are closed, we are providing alternative ways to keeping fit.  The online class membership provides access to 25 exercise classes every week for £12 a month…that works out at just £3 per week. Join in January and we’ll give you your first month for just £6.

Leisure centre members can currently attend for FREE.  To receive a unique link for the free use, email Leisure@sstaffs.gov.uk. Find out more about the online classes on the website here.

• COMPETITION TIME
  As we face another national lockdown whilst balancing work, home schooling and other commitments, it is crucial we all try to take some time out for exercise.  You could be in with the chance of winning your very own, home workout equipment. To find out how to enter, click here.

• Outstanding recycling collections
  The Waste and Recycling team and their contractors Biffa Municipal Ltd have been working hard to catch up on outstanding recycling collections. Alongside the challenges posed by the recent snow and ice several operatives have tested positive for COVID 19 or been required to self-isolate as advised by the NHS Test and Trace app.  At its worst, there was 43% of the workforce off in total which posed real challenges.

Grey bin collections are up to speed and the crews are working tirelessly to complete outstanding recycling bins by the end of this week.

Thank you to those from other teams for their support during the difficult time (Customer Services for handling phone calls and email queries and Leisure staff for training on bin loading and being on standby should their assistance be required).

• Emergency Covid winter support is available to help keep residents warm at home.
  Families who are struggling financially could get up to £200 financial help to pay their heating bills.  Please click here for more information.

• Stop Loan Sharks Reporting App Launched
  A smartphone app has been launched to make it quick and easy for people to report loan sharks and access support. Click here for more information.
• Kingswood Trust Seeks Volunteers Aged 16-25 for Wild Conservation Work
  Kingswood Trust is looking for 12 enthusiastic, young volunteers to join them for their new grounds work project who will have the opportunity to learn skills and benefit from working together on our environmental site.

The Kingswood Trust Nature4All is one of the first environmental projects awarded a grant from the government’s £80 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund.  The project is all about connecting people to nature, developing and preserving the environment, biodiversity and wildlife conservation.  Work will include the creation of a gardening area with a tree & plant nursery and a new, wonderful forest school. This is so that more activities can be offered to the whole community and particularly those with special educational needs, disabilities and poor mental health.  Click here to see a photo of one of the volunteers helping with some grounds work.

The project will begin after 19 February 2021. Anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer or would like to know more about the project, please contact Helen Heywood via email helen.heywood@wolverhampton.gov.uk.

• Text Scams
  Due to the roll out the new vaccine, many people are anticipating contact from health care professionals. This is great news, but unfortunately, criminals are seeing this as an opportunity to lure people into clicking links on fraudulent text messages and emails, and we are asking people to be aware of these scams. Click here no link for more information.

Regular information 

• Next week’s Committee/Panel meetings
• Overview & Scrutiny Committee – Tuesday, 19 January 2021 – 6.30 pm – Public Virtual Meeting
• Licensing & Regulatory Committee – Thursday, 21 January 2021 – 2.30 pm – Public Virtual Meeting. 

Members of the public can virtually attend these meetings via Microsoft Teams – a link can be found in the news section on the Council’s website at www.sstaffs.gov.uk.

• Council job vacancies
• Senior Planning Officer, Development Management, closing 5pm on 19 January 2021 – application information
• Housing Strategy Officer (Maternity Cover), Strategic Planning, closing 5pm on 19 January 2021 – application information

Everyone is encouraged to submit news items, please email: comms@sstaffs.gov.uk