Council News

Council job vacancies

• PA to Chief Executive and Corporate Leadership Team, closing 5pm on November 25, 2021. Application Information 

• Street Scene Operative – Level 5 (Tree Surgeon), closing at 5pm on December 1, 2021. Application Information  
• Swimming Instructors, Codsall, Penkridge, Wombourne & Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centers, open closing date. Application Information 

Local Plan Review We are now almost halfway through the public consultation on our Preferred Options. The in-person appointments and locality online Q&A sessions proved very popular with around 460 attendees, plus numerous telephone calls to the Strategic Planning team.  You can still make virtual appointments or telephone a member of the team to find out more. Call 01902 696000 to arrange a call back or to arrange an online appointment. We have updated our Preferred Options FAQs which help to explain the process and the reason for carrying out the review. Remember, your comments need to be made in writing by 5pm on Monday, December 13, 2021.

Four Ashes Enterprise Centre The official opening of the latest extension to our Four Ashes Enterprise Centre took place on Monday, November 15. We were delighted to be joined by South Staffordshire’s Madam Chairman Councillor Lin Hingley who officially opened the site. We were also joined by several other councillors and senior officers who have all played an integral part in achieving the development. Many of the business owners attended the event too – and all were treated to a hot breakfast roll, and a guided tour of the estate and an opening speech. We are very fortunate to be able to offer such fantastic facilities within the district.

Councillor Code of Conduct public consultation

To ensure the maintenance of our standards as a Council we are seeking public consultation for our Code of Conduct to make sure we align our standards with those expected of us by the public and central government.

To express your views and help in the process of creating a fair, inclusive and equal democratic environment please answer the questions on our survey by clicking here.

Your responses will help in cultivating a progressive and effective Code of Conduct for South Staffordshire District Council. The closing date to respond is February 4, 2021.

• Click here to read the Local Government Association’s joint statement on the Councillors Code of Conduct 

• Click here to read South Staffordshire’s current Code of Conduct 

It’s Flood Action Week: Prepare. Act. Survive. Nearly two in three households at risk of flooding don’t believe it will happen to them. The Met Office has forecast an above average chance of the UK winter being wetter than normal over the next three months. The Environment Agency is urging people to check their flood risk online, sign up for flood warnings and, if they are at risk, know what to do if flooding hits.

Leisure and events latest

Member rewards

Leisure centres are running a members-only prize draw throughout December with a huge range of prizes up for grabs.

Details and winners will be posted on the leisure centres’ Facebook pages throughout the month.

Leisure Centre & Baggeridge Christmas opening times The Christmas opening times can now be viewed at Leisure Centre and Baggeridge Opening Times South Staffordshire Council (sstaffs.gov.uk).  Full details on swimming and exercise class programmes will be available on the website and posted on social media in due course.

Christmas holiday activity camps 

The leisure centres will be holding a selection of children’s activity camps which will run from December 20-23, giving parents the chance to get ready for Christmas and do their last-minute shopping.

For Codsall and Wombourne camps visit Active Camps | Aspire Sports (aspire-sports.co.uk) and for camps at Cheslyn Hay and Penkridge, go to Home | The Playscheme

Holiday Activities and Food Programme

The Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) is a central government initiative that requires all Local Authorities to deliver a programme of inclusive activities including a hot meal over the school holidays for children aged 5 to 16 years. It is free to those who receive benefit related school meals.

If your child is eligible for a free place on the winter Holiday Activities and Food programme, they will receive a letter via their school. This letter will contain a unique code which you will need to register your child. You can register from 7pm on 29th November 2021, giving you access to the timetable of activities.

For more information, click here

Father Christmas and festive activities at new community nursery event

Train to be a swimming teacher Training for swimming teachers took place over October half term. Six external candidates completed their Level 2 Certificate course, enabling them to teach the advanced levels of the STA Learn to Swim programme. Dates for 2022 courses will be released next week. If you would like to undertake this training please contact Bridget Chambers, Swimming Academy Co-ordinator, for further details:  [email protected] or 07966255432 There is a chronic national shortage of swimming teachers. The qualification is accredited by OfQual and is accepted nationally and internationally. The STA (Swimming Teachers Association) is looking at potential funding sources for training – so watch this space for further information.

Covid Update

Vaccines for 12-17 year olds

Cases are higher in the younger population and while they may not become seriously ill, there is a risk is they may pass the virus onto the the more fragile in society.

• Click here to book a vaccine appointment for your 12-15 year old
• Staffordshire information for parents of 12-15 year olds.
• Click here for information on how and where to get a vaccine in Staffordshire

Booster vaccines

The NHS will contact you when you are due your booster vaccine – please respond to this correspondence as soon as possible.

Vaccine walk-in clinics

A series of walk-in clinics for Covid vaccinations are scheduled to take place this month.

See here for a list of clinics in Staffordshire

Door-to-door testing

Due to the high rates of COVID-19 in South Staffordshire, the County Council fleet of community testing vehicles are now visiting targeted postcodes.

This is to ensure that residents can access testing on a more regular basis to try and slow down the spread of the virus.

Partnership Updates

Smart Alert This is a Staffordshire Police scheme which alerts you to crime happening locally. Any resident, community group, business or parish council can register and receive regular information about local crime; local police events; crime reduction tips and advice; local business crime and more. There are several ways to receive alerts including email, SMS, smartphone app or landline phone message. See Staffordshire Smart Alert | Staffordshire Police for more information and to register to receive Smart Alert messages.

Community Safety Partnership Plan The Community Safety Partnership Plan sets out the priorities of the Community Safety Partnership for three years (2020-2023) – and the actions to achieve those priorities. For further information on the Community Plan click here and/or contact [email protected]

WEEE Campaign

Have you got a broken electrical item that you don’t want any more but just needs fixing?

Around 5kg per household of small electrical items are thrown away each year.

Instead of throwing away your small appliances, we are working with local prisons to give your broken Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment a new lease of life.

Simply drop off your broken items at the Bilbrook Recycling Centre or the Wombourne Recycling Centre and we will send them item off to prisons to be repaired and PAT tested by trained prisoners and forward them onto charity to be resold.

You can donate most of your small household appliances to the scheme. If it has a plug or needs a battery, we will take it.

Anything that you think is beyond repair should go in the general waste bin at the Home Waste Recycling Centres for recycling.

Click here to find out the types of items that can be recycled – Together WEEE can reduce waste & re-offending

When it’s urgent but not an emergency, visit NHS 111 online

Get the advice you need at home

Get a face-to-face timeslot if you need one

Be advised how to get any medicine you need

Find out how you can ‘self care’ at home

In an emergency, always call 999