This week’s news from around the Council.

Council News

• Boundary Review
  The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) has announced that it is minded to recommend that the council should have 41 councillors in the future.

They are now drawing up a new pattern of wards to accommodate 41 councillors and asking local people and organisations for their help to draw up the new ward boundaries across South Staffordshire District Council.

Further information on the Boundary Review can be found here and the Commission has a dedicated section on its website where people can give their views: https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/27826

There will be a further round of consultation once the Commission has drawn up those proposals.

Please note: ‘The Commission has no power to create new parishes or alter the external boundaries of existing parishes. However, sometimes we may alter the parish wards used for parish (or town council) elections. This happens when we create new district or borough wards, or county divisions, for the authority we are reviewing which divide existing parishes. In that case, the law says we must change parish or town council wards so that they do not cross the new boundaries. When we do this, we may change the number of parish councillors each parish ward will have, but we would not normally change the total number of parish or town councillors.’   

• Four Ashes Enterprise Park Development Update

On sit work is progressing well; Welfare facilities now have the lids (ceilings) fitted by the carpenters, and the electricians have been finishing off internal fittings in Block B. The glazing to all three blocks has now been completed. Externally the ground works team have been working on the connections to the sub-station which is now in situ. These can be seen in the first four photographs.

The last photograph shows Unit 4E Development at Four Ashes and we are pleased to announce that on the 18 May we have appointed K & M Engineering (Shropshire) Limited to complete the works at this site.

We have secured tenants for most of the units. We still have 4 units available to rent; sizes range from 2,000 square feet to 4,000 square feet.

Click here to find out more…

https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/industrial-units/available-units-to-let.cfm

For enquiries, please contact Andrew France on 01902 696117, [email protected] or Harvey Bains 01902 696480, [email protected]

• Community Lottery hits £100K 

This week’s lottery draw saw the total amount of money raised to support local good causes, charities and community groups in support South Staffordshire hit £100,000 and the lottery has now sold over 166,970 tickets!

Penkridge Sports and Recreation Centre ‘The Monkton’ and Breathing Spaces Therapeutic Services Community Interest Company are the latest good causes that have been supported through the Community Lottery. 

Regular News

• Next week’s Council Committee/Panel meetings

No Council meetings will be taking place the w/c 07 June.

• Council job vacancies
• Digital Apprenticeship, closing midnight on 16th July 2021. Application information.
• Legal Apprenticeship, closing midnight on 16th July 2021. Application information.
• Relief Leisure Assistant (Codsall & Penkridge), closing 5pm on 14th June 2021. Application information.
• Homelessness Prevention Officer, closing 12pm on 16th July 2021 Application information.
• Covid 19 Support Officers, open until sufficient appointments Application information.

Leisure News

• To help you keep both physically and mentally healthy, socialise (safely) and to make new friends; we offer a range of activities in and around your Leisure Centres and Green Spaces.

• Are you interested in Couch to 5k? Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre can help you. Please click here for further information, costs and to book your sessions; click here.

• Open Trail ‘Learn to Ride’ sessions at Baggeridge Country Park. Click here for more details and to book sessions. 

• Leisure Centres in South Staffs have a lot to offer; click here for the latest information. 

• Subscribe to South Staffs Leisure Centre updates by completing an online form here.

COVID-19

• COVID-19 update – Variant of Concern

Whilst cases remain low in Staffordshire; there is nationally a growing concern about the Covid Variant that originated in India. This Variant is highly transmissible and could potentially become the dominant variant within the next few weeks.  But by following national and local restrictions; it can be contained; please don’t give up now.

The key messages remain:

• Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air.
• Immediately self-isolate if you feel unwell and take a test.
• Routinely test and report your results online whether positive or negative.
• 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!”

• Further information on how restrictions have been eased from 17 May can be found here.

• Covid-19 testing options

Asymptomatic residents are encouraged to test at least twice a week. 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.

• Semi-permanent Covid-19 testing site
  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. Anyone with symptoms should not attend and instead book a PCR test online here. 

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

Next week’s pop-up Covid-19 testing sites:

• Updates on pop up testing sites can be found on South Staffordshire Councils Facebook page.
• Support for groups helping people self-isolating due to Covid-19

Groups and organisations working with vulnerable communities in Staffordshire are set to benefit from a new county council fund.

The #DoingOurBit Covid-19 Self Isolators Grants Scheme is now accepting applications from groups who support vulnerable people who must self-isolate because they have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been in close contact with others who have.

• Full details of how to apply for these grants can be found by clicking here.

Helpful Resources

• Holiday Activities and Food Programme Grants Scheme – Staffordshire County Council

Grants are available to organisations across the statutory (including our schools), private, community and voluntary sector who can provide activities within the HAF Programme to eligible children whose proposals meet one of three categories outlined below:

Additional Places (Children and Young People Only): To provide funded places at an existing activity which meets the standards of the HAF Programme and provides a minimum of four hours for four days a week for four weeks during the Summer 2021 School Holidays (26/07/2021 – 27/08/2021).

New Programmes (Children and Young People Only): To provide funding for new activities which meet the standards of the HAF Programme and provides a minimum of four hours for four days a week for four weeks during the Summer 2021 School Holidays (26/072021 – 27/08/2021).

Targeted Programmes (Children, Young People and Families): To provide funding for innovative activities which are targeted at specific cohorts of children, young people and families and provides a minimum of four hours for four days a week for four weeks during the Summer 2021 School Holidays (26/07/2021 – 27/08/2021). This could include children accessing Family Support, Early Help, Child in Need, Child Protection and Children in Our Care. Children and Families accessing such Targeted Programmes MUST meet the eligibility for the HAF Programme. This category includes provision for children and young people and their families.

Applications close at 11:59pm on Monday 7th June 2021.

Find out more here HAF – Holiday activities and food – DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR APPLICATIONS | Staffordshire Connects.

You may also contact us on [email protected] 

• Cyber Sprinters 

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has launched an educational online cyber security game and resources aimed at 7 to 11 year olds, but also very educational and fun for the ‘young at heart’. The online game sees players become a ‘cybersprinter’ who is racing against its own depleting battery power. Users can win battery power by correctly answering questions about cyber security but face losing it if they bump into ‘cybervillains’.

To play the game and access resources packs; click here.

• SEND

Post 16 Transport Applications

If your son/daughter is 16 – 25 years old, has an EHCP and has difficulty in accessing public transport to their place of education, he/she may be eligible for travel assistance from Staffordshire County Council. Applications for travel assistance from September are open and the deadline is 13th June. You will need to re-apply each year.

Eligibility information and the online application form can be found by clicking here.

• New Service Information – Staffordshire Together for Carers

Staffordshire Together for Carers Service provide information, advice and a wide range of specialist support designed to help you as a carer and to reduce the impact caring has on your health and wellbeing and supports you to complete a Carers Assessment. This service offers:

• Advice and Guidance
• Access to Carer’s Assessments
• Individual and group support
• Support for Young Carers
• Support to take breaks from caring
• Training and skills development
• 24/7 Carer’s CHAT line manned by volunteers

For further information telephone 0300 303 0621

• Staffordshire Libraries
• For opening times, information about current services and Covid compliancy; please click here.
• For information on Kindness Month and the Library’s June activity timetable; please click here.