Council and district news

This is the last news roundup before Christmas. We'll be back January 5th, 2024.

Vacancies

• Relief Swimming Instructor (all centres), closing December 15th
• Waste Contracts Manager closing December 22nd
• Relief Leisure Assistant (Penkridge Leisure Centre), closing December 31st
• Litigation Solicitor, closing January 5th

All vacancies can be viewed in full and applied for on our recruitment site: https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/vacancies

Leisure latest

Christmas Opening Times

The leisure centres Christmas opening times and activity timetables can be found at https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/sports-and-fitness/leisure-centre-opening-times

Temporary Swimming Pool Closures

Cheslyn Hay and Wombourne Leisure Centres swimming pools will be temporarily closed from Monday, December 4th whilst work is carried out to install new air handling systems. Should the works remain on schedule, the pools are planned to re-open around the end of December/beginning of January.  We will provide further updates in due course to notify you of progress and provide a specific re-opening date.  Follow Cheslyn Hay and Wombourne leisure centres on Facebook to receive the latest updates.

Baggeridge Country Park Winter Woodland

Santa is bringing his Christmas Grotto to Baggeridge Country Park's Winter Woodland this December.

Little ones can meet the elves, receive a gift from Father Christmas and have their picture taken with him.

There will also be live festive entertainment, a licensed bar and hot food.

The last date is:

• Saturday, December 16th and Sunday, December 17th

The event will run from midday to 7pm.

Booking is essential.  Call 0330 229 4041 or visit dangeroussheep.com/events

Half price: Children’s Christmas Aspire Activity Camps

Codsall and Wombourne Leisure Centres are holding the camps between Tuesday, January 2nd, and Friday, January 5th. 

Camps are available for children aged 5-14 years and are bookable as full-day or half-day camps.

To find out more and to book a place, visit https://www.aaeg.co.uk/active-camps

Partnership updates

Don't choose to abuse

Staffordshire Police are raising awareness of their 'Don’t Choose to Abuse' campaign. This campaign which encourages men to recognise when they are displaying abusive behaviour towards women and make changes. This could be recognising if they are displaying unhealthy or abusive behaviour within a relationship or that their behaviour is unacceptable when in a public place, such as a bar or club. Violence, abuse and intimidation towards women and girls is not acceptable and this behaviour will be, and quite rightly should be, called out by others. If you behave this way, you are possibly committing a crime that could lead to arrest, a criminal conviction and maybe even a prison sentence. Although this campaign is aimed at offenders, we want to reiterate that protecting and supporting victims is a priority for us. Support services are available to victims and we will take reports seriously. New Era, the domestic abuse service operating across Staffordshire, offers support to those wanting to change. Call 01785 904770 to speak to someone now. You can also visit their website for further information: New Era – holistic domestic abuse support Click here to watch videos that show contrasting scenarios of the victim and perpetrator at Christmas, highlighting the consequences of abusive behaviour.

Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue & Crime, Ben Adams, would like to hear your feedback on how much you would be prepared to pay for Policing and Fire & Rescue services in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

For 2024/25, he is asking residents of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to share their views on the following options, based on a Band D property currently paying £260.57 each year for Police services and £84.25 for Fire & Rescue services.

Police:

• No increase in precept
• An extra £5 per year (42p extra a month) This is a 1.92% increase.
• An extra £10 per year (83p extra a month) This is a 3.84% increase.
• An extra £15 per year (£1.25 extra a month) This is a 5.76% increase.
• An extra £20 per year (£1.67 extra a month) This is a 7.68% increase.  

Fire & Rescue:

• No increase in precept
• An extra £2.50 per year (21p extra a month) This is a 2.97% increase.
• An extra £3.75 per year (31p extra a month) This is a 4.45% increase.
• An extra £5 per year (42p extra a month) This is a 5.94% increase.

The council tax consultation runs until January 4th, 2024.

Have your say here: council tax consultation.

The Warmer Homes work shows many households are affected by fuel poverty, meaning the costs to heat their homes can be high.

These residents can be left with a residual income below the official poverty line or are unable to afford to pay to heat their homes, and this can lead to health related illnesses due to insufficient heating. The Staffordshire Warmer Homes is a scheme run by Staffordshire County Council, in partnership with district and borough councils and can help by providing funding for energy efficiency measures.

We are currently working in partnership with Community Home Solutions to help eligible residents access a funding and to manage the customer journey throughout the process.

To find out more information on how to access funding to heat your home, please visit: Staffordshire Warmer Homes - Warm Homes Scheme