• New Leader and Cabinet

At Full Council on Tuesday 14 September, Councillor Roger Lees was elected as Leader of the Council. Councillor Rita Heseltine is the new Deputy Leader with Cabinet as follows:

• Business Transformation – Councillor D Williams
• Welfare Services – Councillor R Reade
• Regulatory Services – Councillor R Heseltine
• Community Services – Councillor L Bates
• Planning and Business Enterprise – Councillor T Mason
• Partnership Services – Leader of the Council
• Assistant Cabinet Member Planning – Councillor V Wilson

Councillor Mike Lawrence takes the Chairman of Planning Committee role with Councillor Bob Cope as Vice-Chairman. Members also agreed several other changes to committee memberships, and these can be viewed here.

• Waste and Recycling service disruption

As you will have no doubt seen in the news, there is currently a national shortage of HGV drivers resulting in disruption across various sectors, including Council waste services across the UK.

We have been feeling the impacts of this in South Staffordshire for several weeks. As staff numbers begin to dwindle below the minimum that we need to deliver a ‘normal’ service, unavoidable delays to a number of collection rounds across the district have occured. To date, the vast majority of delayed rounds have been resolved within 48 hours of the normal collection date, although there are some pockets of the district that have unfortunately been subject to longer delays.

To maintain a service which is as close to normal as possible, our collection crews are working overtime every day, and a number of crews are also working Saturdays to catch up on collections not completed during the week.

Biffa, our waste collection service provider, have issued the following statement:

“Biffa would like to apologise to the residents of South Staffordshire for the disruption to the waste and recycling collection services. The national driver shortage has led to extreme problems for Biffa in many areas and we are working hard to address the current 30% shortfall.   

Unfortunately, the disruption will continue for a while yet and we kindly ask that if your bin is not collected on its scheduled collection day you leave it at the collection point for up to 72 hours / 3 working days to allow us to collect before reporting it as a missed collection.   

We thank all residents for their patience and understanding at this difficult time.”  

Residents who have not had their bin emptied can report it to us after 72 hours by calling Customer Services on 01902 696000.

We apologise for any disruption caused. 

We encourage residents to sign up for our email updates 

• Unauthorised 4-bedroom house demolished

An unauthorised 4-bedroom house on Green Belt land in Trysull has been demolished as the result of action by the Planning Enforcement Team. The building was constructed in 2019 without planning permission and a retrospective planning application was refused. The owner of the land appealed the decision which was dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate in April this year. A Planning Enforcement Notice was served to force the removal of the unauthorised house resulting in the house being demolished. This sends out a firm message to landowners that the Council will take firm action against unauthorised development when necessary.

• Community Lottery welcomes a new worthy cause – Staffordshire Search & Rescue Team 

Staffordshire Search & Rescue are Staffordshire’s only approved volunteer lowland search & rescue team with specialist training in locating and rescuing missing people in urban and rural lowland areas. The service is funded entirely through donations from the public and local businesses, so when the team are not on a call out or training, they are kept busy raising essential funds throughout the year to keep the service operational.

Click here if you would like to support them through the Community Lottery.

• Resident Survey success

South Staffordshire’s Residents Survey has achieved a grand total of 1,315 responses. In previous years, when using an external provider we would gain around 500 responses, so this is a great achievement. Whilst a summary report is now being prepared, we are pleased to announce a key highlight in line with previous years, that 92% of residents would recommend South Staffordshire as a place to live, with a locality breakdown below:

• Drop in fly tipping figures 

During April to August this year, we have recorded 528 fly tipping incidents across the district. We noted 868 for the same period during 2020, which is a 39% drop in incidents.

We are confident that our engagement with partners and local parishes, coupled with our enforcement actions are playing a huge role in this positive trend and hope to see it continue.

• Baggeridge Weekly Walk 

We are delighted to have 11 people interested in becoming volunteer walk leaders to help lead a weekly walk at Baggeridge Country Park. Before walks commence, the volunteers need to go through their walk leader training which is planned to take place later this month. More information, including a start date for the walks will follow in due course. If you or anyone you know would be interested in becoming a walk leader, contact Louise Colman our fitness and wellbeing co-ordinator. Tel: 07939 631131 Email: louisecolman07@gmail.com

Regular News

• Council Job Vacancies
  • Leisure Assistants, Wombourne Leisure Centre, closing 5pm on 29 September 2021.Application Information
  • Customer Services Specialist Advisor (Fixed Term), closing 5pm on 28 September 2021. Application Information
  • Homelessness Prevention Officer, closing midday on 30 September 2021. Application Information 

• Next week’s Council Committee meetings
  • Planning Committee – Tuesday, 21 September 2021 – 6.30 pm

Members of the public can virtually attend meetings via Microsoft Teams – a link can be found in the News Item section at the bottom of the Council’s website.

Partnership updates

• Wombourne Parish Council to host 3rd #shoplocal event

Wombourne Parish Council will be hosting their 3rd #shoplocal event this Saturday 18 September in the village centre from 11am to 3pm. Local residents and visitors are encouraged to #shoplocal whilst enjoying free entertainment themed around Fairy Tales as part of the initiative to recover and rejuvenate local High Streets. There will be fairy tale princesses, live music, a storyteller, as well as a free fairy tale trail around the village shops and a memento for attending in fancy dress. The Parish Council will also be hosting their first free to enter craft fayre in the Council Chamber where local residents will be showcasing their homemade goods, this is also running from 11am to 3pm. For more information, follow the Parish Council on Facebook and Instagram – @Wombourne Parish Council.

·         Difficult Decisions – Help us to Prioritise and Align Clinical Policies

In January 2020, the six NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) began the first phase of engagement about five areas of care: assisted conception, hearing aids for non-complex hearing loss, male and female sterilisation, breast augmentation and reconstruction, and removal of excess skin following significant weight loss.

The eight-week engagement work ended on 1 March 2020. More information and the report of findings can be found online here.

Since then, there have been changes to the way the NHS has been able to deliver services and see patients. We know this may have affected the way people feel about or changed their experience of the services.

This most recent questionnaire is mainly to understand if anything new needs to be considered since the pandemic and can be accessed here.

• Free Awareness Session – Spotting the Risks in Vulnerable People

Do you work with or support vulnerable people? Do you ever have concerns but are not really sure what they mean? Do you know how to support them? Click here for more information.

Covid-19 Update

• The Government’s Winter Plan for Covid-19

Between March and July this year, the Government’s roadmap for England reopened the economy and lifted restrictions in four steps. This week the Prime Minister announced the COVID-19 Response during autumn and winter. The Government plans to achieve this by focusing on five key areas:

• Building our defences through pharmaceutical interventions: vaccines, antivirals and disease modifying therapeutics.
• Identifying and isolating positive cases to limit transmission: Test, Trace and Isolate.
• Supporting the NHS and social care: managing pressures and recovering services.
• Advising people on how to protect themselves and others: clear guidance and communications.
• Pursuing an international approach: helping to vaccinate the world and managing risks at the border.

Under Plan A of the autumn and winter plan, announced by Health Secretary Sajid Javid, ministers will:

• Encourage the unvaccinated to be jabbed.
• Offer the vaccine to 12- to 15-year-olds.
• Begin a booster vaccination programme for millions.
• Continuing testing, the tracing of cases and self-isolation for those who catch the virus.
• Businesses will also be encouraged to consider using the NHS Covid Pass to check the vaccination or test status of customers.

Under Plan B – which ministers say will only be enacted if further measures are needed to protect the NHS:

• The public would be urged to act more cautiously
• Mandatory vaccine passports could be used for mass events and other settings
• Face coverings could be legally mandated in some places
• Guidance on working from home may also be issued under this plan.

• Encouraging Safer Behaviours and Actions

It remains important for everyone, including those who are fully vaccinated, to follow behaviours and actions that reduce transmission and help to keep people safe. Following the recommended actions will also help limit the spread of seasonal illnesses, including flu:

• Invitation from The Cabinet Office & NHS Test & Trace – Keeping communities safe during winter

Monday 20 September 2021 – 3.00 pm – 4.00 pm

Community leaders have played a vital role during the pandemic. Before the colder months set in, we are holding a Keeping Communities Safe During Winter webinar to support community and faith leaders, voluntary and community groups with their ongoing engagement and communications. The Zoom webinar on Monday 20 September 2021 at 3.00 pm is an opportunity to:

• keep up to date with the latest information on COVID-19 from Government officials
• ask questions and discuss ideas for effective engagement
• inform the Government about challenges, barriers, and experiences in communities

All community leaders are welcome to attend; please click here to register.

There will be opportunity to ask questions. To submit a question in advance or if you have any questions about the webinar, contact Obaayaa Asantewaa or Pascoe Sawyers at community.resources@dhsc.gov.uk
 

Helpful Resources

A range of on-going support resources are now accessible from South Staffordshire Councils Website which will be added to regularly:

• Adults

Click here to find Support Resources for Adults

Including – Mental health, dementia, loneliness, domestic abuse, carer support, Parkinson’s, drug misuse.

• Children and Young People

Click here to find Support Resources for Children & Young People

Including – Family Support, keeping children safe, keeping children safe online, keeping babies safe, Teen mental health.

Issue 1

Bilbrook Parish Council is interested in formulating a Neighbourhood plan but needs the help of residents.  If you are interested in joining the working party, please follow the link below for more information. 

Neighbourhood Plan

Council News

• High Street Recovery Fund – Kinver

Harvey Bains from Commercial Services, was invited to attend the first Kinver High Street recovery event which was held at the Village Market on the 26 August.

“It was great to catch up with local Councillors who really appreciated all of the Councils effort in assisting with the funding and guidance in relation to the event. The event appeared to be a success, there was a significant increase in footfall on the High Street, and local businesses also commented on how it led to more visitors to their premises. It was really encouraging to see the effort and planning that had been put into the event by Councillors and Kinver Parish members, and it was fantastic to see that the event appeared to have achieved its objective in promoting the businesses and what Kinver and its High Street has to offer.”

There is a further Village Market event scheduled for September.

An image of the event even made the BBC Weather page!

• Council Job Vacancies
  • Social Media Manager, closing 10 September 2021.Application Information  

• Next week’s Council Committee meetings
  • Cabinet Meeting – 9 September at 2:30pm

Members of the public can virtually attend meetings via Microsoft Teams – a link can be found in the News Item section at the bottom of the Council’s website.

Leisure News 

• Wombourne Running Group

Wombourne Leisure Centre are thrilled to launch their very first Running Group as a follow on from the Couch to 5k programme which finished last week.

The Running Group is open to everyone and will initially consist of running short distances of up to 5k. The group starts Tuesday 7 September and will run every Tuesday at 6pm. Leisure centre members can take part for FREE. Non-members are welcome to join in but there will be a weekly fee. To book your place, call Wombourne leisure centre on 01902 898202.

• Staffordshire leisure centres continue to provide online & on-demand exercise classes

South Staffordshire leisure centres continue to provide up to 30 online exercise classes each week which are free to members and just a nominal fee for non-members to attend. The classes offer 40-minute workouts for all abilities and are a great way of improving your health and enjoying social interaction, but from your own home. This is ideal for those who have busy lifestyles or who don’t yet feel ready to return to the leisure centres. Members can also enjoy access to on-demand classes meaning you can do a pre-recorded class at a time that suits you! More information can be found here.

Partnership updates 

• Support Staffordshire Business Club Launch

Local charity, Support Staffordshire is launching a brand new and exclusive Business Club which will help to raise vital funds to enable them to provide even more support to Staffordshire’s community. Click here to read Support Staffordshire’s press release. 

• Together We’re Better – Staffordshire’s Healthcare Provider

In Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, a new and improved way for you to access urgent NHS care is being implemented.

The enhanced offer will enable the 111 service to directly book patients into time slots for Emergency Departments and Same Day Emergency Care services, when clinically appropriate. By triaging a greater number of patients through 111 first, they will reduce unnecessary attendances at Emergency Departments.

They want to reassure people, however, that anyone who attends an Emergency Department without having contacted NHS 111 beforehand will not be turned away without support. 

What will be different for patients?

Patients will be encouraged to call NHS 111; visit NHS 111 online or download the NHS App and use the Digital Triaging Kiosks before they attend an Emergency Department if their requirements are not a life-threatening emergency. Emergency patients who have a life-threatening emergency should continue to call 999.

Patients calling NHS 111 or visiting NHS 111 online will have their symptoms triaged and they will
be provided with advice about which NHS service to use.  Sometimes, this might be the
Emergency Department, but NHS 111 will also be able to offer appointment slots for other
services, such as Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) as well as providing advice that a patient
might need to visit a pharmacy or another service. NHS 111 will be able to advise certain patients
to bypass the Emergency Department and directly attend a specialty clinic within a hospital. By
offering direct access, the patient will go straight into the relevant clinic, reducing waiting times
and unnecessary steps in the patient’s journey.

Click here for further information on all 111 services or download the NHS App.

• Together We’re Better AGM

Join the Clinical Commissioning Groups’ Annual General Meeting on Thursday 23 September 2021, 2:00pm-4:00pm via Microsoft Teams. This is a chance to hear from the CCGs about the work they have been doing with the local health services in the last year, whilst continuing to tackle the Coronavirus pandemic and delivering the vaccination programme.

Click here to read your healthcare services annual report for 2020/2021

Join our AGM – click on this link to register your interest.

COVID-19 Update

·         New ‘Back to School’ Campaign
The Department for Education has launched the ‘Back to School’ campaign, which seeks to encourage secondary and college students to take two tests before the start of term and then twice weekly to minimise disruption to education over the autumn term.

Click here to find out information and advice from the Government about returning to school or college. 

Helpful Information and Resources

Please note: A Helpful Resources webpage on the Councils Website is coming soon. The Council News Round Up will then briefly update you with any new resources that have been added each week. 

• 30 Days 30 Ways – September Campaign

The aim of the campaign is to disseminate preparedness and community resilience messages to inspire and empower people to take steps towards personal and collective preparedness for all kinds of hazards. It’s free to join and a fun, interactive way to become more resilient.

• Follow #30days30waysUK
• Like and share @30days30waysUK on Facebook
• Follow and share @30days30waysUK on Twitter

Click here for further information and joining instructions for 30days30ways.

The Parish Council is considering upgrading the Play Park subject to obtaining funding.

The Parish Council would like to hear from you about what you like and don’t like about the existing Play Park and what equipment you would like installed.

Please follow the link below to complete the online consultation form.
https://bit.ly/PlayParkConsultation

Council News

• Enforcement – a full enforcement notice and stop notice served!

Early on Saturday morning, the Council received news from concerned residents that Travellers had entered land to the east of Teddesley Road, Penkridge – a site that has previously been subject to a temporary stop notice served by the Enforcement Team.

They had laid down a significant amount of hardcore and tarmac and brought 8 caravans and campervans onto the site. A full enforcement notice and stop notice was prepared on Saturday morning to serve them on Saturday afternoon.

The Travellers remain on site and have 28 days to comply with the notices. Officers continue to liaise with the Travellers to resolve the incursion that has taken place and will keep Members and residents updated.

• Council Job Vacancies
  • Customer Services Specialist Advisor (Part-time, Fixed Term), closing midday on 3rd September 2021. Application Information
  • Social Media Manager, open closing date.Application Information  

• Next week’s Council Committee meetings
  • No meetings will take place week commencing 30 August 2021.

Members of the public can virtually attend meetings via Microsoft Teams – a link can be found in the news section at the bottom of the Council’s website.

Leisure News 

• Walk leaders wanted!

Baggeridge Country Park are looking for a small team of people who enjoy walking and who would be interested helping us to set up a walking group. Call or email our Walking Programme Co-ordinator Louise, to express interest. Phone: 07939631131 or Email: louisewalkingforhealth@gmail.com

• Codsalls Football League 

Residents can now sign up for Mondays Football League at Codsall Leisure Centre. For details click here.

• Swimming Pools Re-open 

Both Codsall and Penkridge Leisure Centre have now re-opened their swimming pools after temporary closures due to tank and boiler upgrades.

Partnership updates 

• Together We’re Better – Staffordshire’s Healthcare Provider

In Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, they are providing a new and improved way for you to access urgent NHS care when you need it.

The enhanced offer will enable the 111 service to directly book patients into time slots for Emergency Departments and Same Day Emergency Care services, when clinically appropriate.

By triaging a greater number of patients through 111 first we can reduce unnecessary attendances at Emergency Departments.

They want to reassure people that anyone who attends an Emergency Department without having contacted NHS 111 beforehand will be turned away without support. 

What will be different for patients?

Patients will be encouraged to call NHS 111; visit NHS 111 online or download the NHS App and use the Digital Triaging Kiosks before they attend an Emergency Department if their requirements are not a life-threatening emergency. Emergency patients who have a life-threatening emergency should continue to call 999.

Patients calling NHS 111 or visiting NHS 111 online will have their symptoms triaged and they will
be provided with advice about which NHS service to use.  Sometimes, this might be the
Emergency Department, but NHS 111 will also be able to offer appointment slots for other
services, such as Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) as well as providing advice that a patient
might need to visit a pharmacy or another service. NHS 111 will be able to advise certain patients
to bypass the Emergency Department and directly attend a specialty clinic within a hospital. By
offering direct access, the patient will go straight into the relevant clinic, reducing waiting times
and unnecessary steps in the patient’s journey.

• Click here for further information on all 111 services or download the NHS App.

• Together We’re Better AGM

Join the Clinical Commissioning Groups’ Annual General Meeting on Thursday 23 September 2021, 2:00pm-4:00pm via Microsoft Teams. This is a chance to hear from the CCGs about the work they have been doing with the local health services in the last year, whilst continuing to tackle the Coronavirus pandemic and delivering the vaccination programme

• Click here to read your healthcare services annual report for 2020/2021
• Join our AGM – click on this link to register your interest. 

• Have Your Say: Replacement Care (Respite Care)

For carers, professionals and other stakeholders, Staffordshire County Council (SCC) have developed two ways you can share your experience of replacement care and how this could look in the future:

• By Survey

SCC have developed two questionnaires; one for carers and another for professionals and other stakeholders. Both surveys will be open until 5pm on the 15 September 2021 and responses will remain anonymous.

• By Face-to-face sessions

SCC have also organised several face-to-face sessions across the county which will operate on an appointment basis. If you would like to speak to our officers and give your views in person, please contact them via email at david.ault@staffordshire.gov.uk or telephone on 01785 276567 to book your appointment before 2 September 2021. Details of the face-to-face sessions are below:

Location:      Codsall Village Hall

Date:              9 September 2021

Time:             10am – 4pm

Address:       Codsall Village Hall, Wolverhampton Road, Codsall, WV8 1PL

COVID-19 Update

·         Update on the new isolation rules

From Monday 16 August, people who are double jabbed or aged under 18 will no longer be legally required to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case. Governments guidance on the changes to isolation rules if you’ve had both doses of your vaccine. 

·         Vaccination of children and young people aged 12-17 years
Following the recent announcement from the JCVI, here is an updated statement on COVID-19 vaccination of children and young people aged 12 to 17 years.

• Vaccination of people working or deployed in care homes

The DHSC have published operational guidance for the vaccination of people working or deployed in care homes which states that from 11 November 2021, anyone working or volunteering in a care home will need to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus (COVID-19), unless exempt. Key dates to bear in mind are 22 July (this is when the grace period started), 16 September (last date for care home workers to get their first dose so they are fully vaccinated by the time the regulations come into force) and 11 November (regulations come into force). 

Helpful Information and Resources

Please note: A Helpful Resources webpage on the Councils Website is coming soon. The Council News Round Up will then briefly update you with any new resources that have been added each week. 

• Rehab 4 Addiction.

Rehab 4 Addiction is a UK-based addiction and mental health helpline. They have put together a resource page for people living in Staffordshire who may be experiencing issues with addiction and/or mental health.