This week’s news from around the Council.

Council News

• Community Safety
  There has been a spate of burglaries in South Staffordshire where properties have been left unlocked and unsecured, so Staffordshire Police are reminding residents to keep their properties locked – even when they are in their gardens!
• Anti-Social Behaviour – Highgate Common
  This is a nationally important nature reserve in South Staffordshire, owned and managed by the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. It is a haven for wildlife and a vital green space for the local community to use. Unfortunately, it has become a hotspot for antisocial behaviour (ASB), especially since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Staffordshire Wildlife Trust spent close to £6000 last year on clearing up fly tipping and dealing with vandalism – including the destruction of a notice board, metal gates and welcome signs; money that should have been spent on conservation and improving Highgate for the wildlife and local community.

The Trust have had to close two car parks whilst they look into options to decrease the amount of ASB on the site as well as taking the difficult decision to install CCTV in the car parks. This will be used to gain further evidence if there is a fly tipping incident on the site.

The Staffordshire Wildlife Trust are asking all its visitors to Highgate Common to be vigilant and help play a part in keeping Highgate Common safe for the wildlife that lives there and its visitors.

If visitors see anyone fly tipping or vandalising this nature reserve, then please contact the police on 101 or contact them through Facebook messenger. Please let the ranger team know any details by emailing: [email protected]

• Street Scene Tree Services

Our tree team have been providing services for residents and businesses of South Staffs. We have completed 33 jobs for residents in the last 5 months as well as completing 87 jobs for the council which would normally be undertaken by sub-contractors at the council’s expense.

If you would like a free quote, please contact [email protected].

• Start Thinking Ahead – Bereavement

A difficult subject, but by purchasing your burial plot in addition to other funeral arrangements can relieve some of the emotional stress and financial pressures on your loved ones. Plots are available to purchase in advance at both Sytch Lane in Wombourne and Strawberry Lane in Great Wyrley. Choosing your exact plot and purchasing it at today’s prices can give invaluable peace of mind to both you and your loved ones. Contact Bec Morgan on 01902 696000 or click here to find out further information about our bereavement services.

• Leisure Update
  • Welcome back
    Leisure centres have been open since 12 April with restricted facilities and capacity, however since then, the leisure centres have signed up and re-activated over 400 members. With exercise classes now resumed, and most other activities re-started or due to re-start; it is hoped that the leisure centres will continue to grow new member sign ups. All safety measures are in place and we were accredited as a Covid-19 approved venue some time ago. We can, therefore, assure members whose memberships were suspended that it is safe to return.
  • Exercise classes have resumed
    Exercise classes resumed at the leisure centres this week and thank you to all our customers for following the safety protocols to make sure that everyone’s visit remains safe and enjoyable. For class times and details on how to book; click on the links below:
• Cheslyn Hay Exercise Classes
• Codsall Exercise Classes
• Penkridge Exercise Classes
• Wombourne Exercise Classes

Leisure centre members are also currently eligible for free online and on-demand exercise classes; this platform is available to non-members for a small fee per class. For further information on online and on demand exercise classes, click here.

Individual Leisure Centre updates

• • Wombourne Leisure Centre are excited to have recently received a delivery ofbrand new spin bikes.
  • Wombourne Leisure Centre are working on a project in the I-active room, which we know will thrill customers.
  • Penkridge Leisure Centres’ Back to Netball session has resumed on Monday evenings and we were delighted to welcome 26 ladies back to the session.
  • Cheslyn Hay welcomed Cricket back to their programme this week. The cricket session takes place on Saturday mornings.
  • Codsall Leisure Centre are sad to say goodbye to Chris Allcott who has worked at the centre for several years but after starting a family last year, has decided to hang up his spin shoes and will be leaving us at the end of this month. We wish Chris all the very best. See Chris Allcott’s story here.

Regular Updates

• Next week’s Council Committee/Panel meetings
• Planning Committee – Tuesday, 25 May 2021 – Council Chamber – 6.30 pm

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

• Job vacancies
• Relief Swimming Instructor at Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre. Closing 5pm on 28 May 2021. Application Information.
• Property Solicitor and Litigation Solicitor.  Closing 10am on 27 May 2021. Application Information.
• PA to Leadership Team, closing 5pm on 4 June 2021.Application information.

COVID-19 Update

• Next Step on the Roadmap

Monday 17 May saw a further easing of restrictions, which is great news, however, as these are eased this will also increase the risk of catching and transmitting the virus.  The key messages remain:

• Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air.
• Routinely test.
• Vaccination and Vigilance.
• Everyone, including those who have been vaccinated, must continue to comply with current restrictions and still get tested regularly.
• Hugging is allowed but the advice is “be cautious!”
• International travel can begin to safely reopen from 17 May, allowing people to go on foreign holidays to ‘green’ list countries. Strict border control measures will remain in place, including pre-departure tests and a PCR test on or before day two of their arrival back in the UK. Further information on travelling abroad can be found here.
• Further information on how restrictions have been eased from 17 May can be found here.

• Covid-19 Testing options

Covid-19 testing will continue for people without symptoms. We know that one in three people who have the virus show no symptoms, and it is essential we identify those not showing symptoms so that we are able to break the chain of infection. Residents are encouraged to test at least twice a week and if you test positive, please isolate for 10 days. There are three options available, of which are all free:

• Collect test kits from a pharmacy; click here to find the nearest one to you.
• Order test kits online by clicking here. These will be sent to your home address. Please note: If you are self-testing, do not forget to report your result whether positive or negative here.
• Visit a test site to either collect test kits or to have a test done.
• Community Testing Sites in South Staffordshire
  You can get a rapid Covid-19 test at any of our community testing sites, provided you are asymptomatic, you are not self-isolating, you have not had a positive Covid-19 test in the last 90 days, and you are not part of another regular asymptomatic testing programme.

South Staffordshire’s semi-permanent Covid-19 Community Testing site is Wombourne Library, Church Road, Wombourne WV5 9EZ, and the opening times are:

• Monday 00-16.00
• Tuesday 00-14.00
• Wednesday 00-16.00
• Thursday 00-19.00
• Friday 00-16.00
• Saturday 00-16.00
• Sunday 00-16.00

Next week’s Covid-19 community testing pop-up sites in South Staffordshire are:

Monday 24 May

• Lealans Garden Centre, Bridgnorth Road, Shipley, Pattingham, WV6 7EZ

Wednesday 26 May

• Hilton Cross Business Park, WV10 7FE
• Dunston Business Village, Stafford Road, Penkridge, ST18 9AB

Saturday 29 May

• Penkridge Recreation Centre (Monckton), ST19 5WP

Sunday 30 May

• Penkridge Recreation Centre (Monckton), ST19 5WP
• Lower Drayton Farm, Lower Drayton Lane, Penkridge, ST19 5RE

Anyone with symptoms should not attend and instead book a PCR test online here.

• Support during the Pandemic

The Council can help arrange local support for shopping, prescriptions, and other necessities if anyone is self-isolating, who has an underlying health condition and cannot call upon friends, family, or neighbours. Further information can be found here.

• Update on reopening multi-use community facilities
  Community centres, village halls, and other multi-use community facilities support a wide range of local activity. However, their communal nature also makes them places that are vulnerable to the spread of coronavirus. The Government has updated the guidelines for the reopening of multi-use community facilities following the easing of some restrictions on 17 May. Many community facilities are also workplaces and those responsible for the premises should therefore be aware of their responsibilities as employers. 

Helpful Resources

• NHS Blood and Transplant urgently need plasma donors!

Thousands of patients rely on immunoglobulin medicines for short-term or lifelong diseases and genetic disorders. The antibody medicines are used to treat people with weak immune systems and a variety of other rare disorders. NHSBT after a 20-year pause have started to collect plasma for medicines. Men aged 17 – 66 are being asked to consider donating because they are more likely than women to have the blood plasma volumes and larger vein sizes needed. Donating plasma takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes and is completely safe. More information can be found here, or to book an appointment call 0300 123 23 23. Appointments are available now at your local Donor centre: Carillion House, Wolverhampton.

• Safe+Sound programme

The Safe+Sound online learning is aimed at Year 5 and Year 6 pupils; however, it provides a good insight for parents and anyone who is interested. The online programmes can be watched here  and topics for this week are:

• First Aid – Choking
• Banter or Bullying?
• Inside an Ambulance with West Midlands Ambulance Service
• Mindfulness with Canal & River Trust
• Kick the Cup Challenge with Time4Sport

• Virtual SUN Session – SEND

SUN sessions are networking and information sharing sessions between parents, carers, young people, schools, and services, for anyone living with or working with a child or young person with SEND. It is an opportunity to find out/share what is happening locally, and what support and services might be available.

• Thursday 17 June 1.00pm – 2.00pm South Staff

Numbers will be limited therefore booking is essential. If you are a parent, carer, young person or a service provider and would like to attend please email: [email protected] or telephone 01785 356921.  For further information on these sessions click here.

• Staffordshire Libraries

Additional services have been reopened following the easing of restrictions from 17 May.

For opening times visit or more information about our current service visit www.staffordshire.gov.uk/libraries 

• Reading for Mental Health Wellbeing

The Reading Agency have developed the Read, Talk, Share initiative to support this work and have gifted every library in England Reading Well Collections for adults, children and young people.

Each of the libraries in Staffordshire have received collections and, in addition, the libraries are also able to offer many of the titles through their Borrowbox App or via the eLibrary.

• Find out more about the Read, Talk, Share
• Find out more about the Reading Well Collection for Mental Health 
• Find out more about the Reading Well Collection for Young People’s Mental Health 
• Find out more about the Reading Well Collection for Children 

• Landywood Children’s Centre
  The purpose of a children’s centre is to ensure young children get the best start in life and that their families are supported to help them achieve this.

At a children’s centre families with young children can access a range of services, participate in activities and get information about what is going on locally. Children’s centres work together with lots of other partners that offer support to families including: Jobcentre Plus, Adult learning, Health Visitors and Midwives.

Information on targeted/specialist services such as family support services and parenting programmes is also available.

• Please click this link for further information on the Centre
• Please click this link for a timetable of activities

• Met Office: WeatherReady ‘My summer’ brief
  The Met Office are inviting people to tell their personal story about summer and its impacts. The ‘My Summer’ is the name for fresh regular digital content similar to a blog and will provide engaging written content (with photos and graphics if appropriate). Stories will be featured on the Met Office website and will link to relevant advice content.

 The stories will demonstrate how weather forecasts play a vital role in helping people prepare for and react to weather. The content will be in a relaxed style, with no word count limits and will also be able to accommodate images. Why not submit your story?

For the ‘Weather Ready’ Met Office website and previous stories, click here.