Latest news with #StaffordBoroughCouncil
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Council given £730k to tackle homelessness
More than £700,000 has been given to a borough council to reduce homelessness over the next year. Stafford Borough Council was awarded the money – a total of £731,338 – through the government's homelessness and rough sleeper fund for 2025/26. It will be used to pay for initiatives in Stafford, including a Citizen's Advice specialist and a supported housing scheme for former rough sleepers with complex needs. The latter, run by health and social care charity Turning Point, has received £260,153 and includes six housing units with 24/7 staffing. More than £38,000 has gone towards providing rough sleeper accommodation run by charity Waythrough, which offers five housing units. The remaining £430,000 has also been used to pay for staffing for the council's Sanctuary scheme, temporary accommodation at Eagle House, a budget advice service and emergency housing repairs or maintenance. Councillor Jill Hood, the council's cabinet member for community, said the authority worked with partners to prevent more than 1,100 households from becoming homeless last year. "The homelessness and rough sleeper funding is being used to try and help people remain in their properties and reduce the negative impact of homelessness and financial risks to the council," she said. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Mayor aims to end rough sleeping in London by 2030 Council calls for asylum seekers' housing support Homelessness service demand 'more than expected' Council given £478k to tackle homelessness Stafford Borough Council
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Council given £478k to tackle homelessness
A council has been given almost half a million pounds by the government to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in the area. Cannock Chase Council has been awarded £478,251, which Councillor David Williams described as a "significant uplift" from last year's funding of £367,606. Councillor Williams said: "I think that reflects the rise in pressure and this funding forms part of the government's £1bn commitment to ending homelessness." The funding has come from the government's homelessness and rough sleeping funding for 2025/2026. A report to the Labour-run council's cabinet said activity to tackle the issue included prevention, relief and staffing activities, alongside temporary accommodation. The report said: "It is anticipated that future spend will be on these same broad activities, whilst expanding our collaborative working practices across our broader networks, including health services, social care and other sectors." It said the aim was to prevent people becoming homeless, and offer suitable accommodation for those facing homelessness. Williams, responsible for community wellbeing, added: "We're determined not just to manage homelessness, but to prevent it, and our ultimate ambition is to eliminate it. He said the work would involve partnerships with social care and other services, "because homelessness isn't just a housing issue". Councillor Sue Thornley, who has responsibility for housing, said: "It's about having the appropriate accommodation for these people. We haven't had this and people were shipped off to hotels out of the area." The authority hopes to emulate neighbouring Stafford Borough Council, which was awarded more than £670,000 by the government three years ago to fund work to help rough sleepers. The scheme, which provides accommodation for up to six rough sleepers at a time, is provided by Turning Point and a report last year said it was having a "positive impact on the quality of people's lives". This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Council seeks views on five year homelessness plan Homelessness charity seeing more autistic people Support hub planned in bid to end rough sleeping Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Cannock Chase Council given £478k to tackle homelessness
A council has been given almost half a million pounds by the government to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in the Chase Council has been awarded £478,251, which Councillor David Williams described as a "significant uplift" from last year's funding of £367, Williams said: "I think that reflects the rise in pressure and this funding forms part of the government's £1bn commitment to ending homelessness."The funding has come from the government's homelessness and rough sleeping funding for 2025/2026. A report to the Labour-run council's cabinet said activity to tackle the issue included prevention, relief and staffing activities, alongside temporary report said: "It is anticipated that future spend will be on these same broad activities, whilst expanding our collaborative working practices across our broader networks, including health services, social care and other sectors."It said the aim was to prevent people becoming homeless, and offer suitable accommodation for those facing homelessness. Appropriate accommodation Williams, responsible for community wellbeing, added: "We're determined not just to manage homelessness, but to prevent it, and our ultimate ambition is to eliminate it. He said the work would involve partnerships with social care and other services, "because homelessness isn't just a housing issue".Councillor Sue Thornley, who has responsibility for housing, said: "It's about having the appropriate accommodation for these people. We haven't had this and people were shipped off to hotels out of the area." The authority hopes to emulate neighbouring Stafford Borough Council, which was awarded more than £670,000 by the government three years ago to fund work to help rough sleepers. The scheme, which provides accommodation for up to six rough sleepers at a time, is provided by Turning Point and a report last year said it was having a "positive impact on the quality of people's lives". This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Road closure fees waived for VE Day street parties
Road closure fees are being waived in part of Staffordshire to encourage people to host street parties to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two. Residents and organisations in Stafford borough are also being urged to apply to The National Lottery Community Fund to help them put on the events. The local authority said the move had proved popular during previous national celebrations such as the coronation of King Charles lll and the platinum jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth ll. People requesting a road closure for an event must do so at least four weeks before the event, the council said. With VE Day falling on 8 May, Stafford Borough Council said it would not charge its usual administration costs for closing roads on the Bank Holiday weekend (3-5 May) or the following weekend (10-11 May). "We know how much our communities respect and appreciate the sacrifices made, both at home and abroad, to protect the freedoms that we enjoy today," said council leader Aidan Godfrey. He added: "Many will want to pay their own tributes - and I want to help remove some of the costs and administration that may be a barrier to them commemorating these important dates with family, friends and neighbours." The council recently organised a light and sound show, projected on to the Shire Hall building in Stafford, to highlight the sacrifices made in the world wars. In addition, several historic venues in the borough will be staging commemorative events. A VE Day themed children's workshop is taking place at the Ancient High House in the county town, and an exhibition in early May will share stories about the lives of local people through historical artefacts and medals. Izaak Walton Cottage will be holding a traditional afternoon tea, set against the backdrop of wartime music on 4 May, and Stafford Castle will be lit up red, white and blue on the evening of VE Day while the Gatehouse Theatre will hold a classic war film that afternoon. A service is also being planned for 21 June at St Mary's Church in Stafford. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Flypast and concert for VE Day 80th commemorations Communities urged to mark VE Day anniversary Council waives fees for WW2 street parties Poppies to return to Tower for WW2 anniversary Stafford Borough Council
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Homes plan for MoD site recommended for approval
Plans to build hundreds of homes on farmland and an army site near Stafford have been recommended for approval. Up to 420 homes have been earmarked for the site off Sandon Road and the A513 Beaconside, which includes land currently used by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The outline planning application, submitted by Homes England, is set to be considered by Stafford Borough Council during a special meeting of the planning committee on Tuesday. The authority's planning officers have recommended that members approve the application, despite concerns from residents over traffic and loss of green space. A report to the committee said the Stafford borough no longer had a five-year housing land supply, following the government's changes to the National Planning Policy Framework in December. The committee report outlined a number of conditions for the developer should the plans be approved, including providing land and contributing money for a roundabout at the junction of Beaconside and Sandon Road. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Plans to build eight homes on farmland approved Work under way to create new social housing estate Mayor vows to build more social housing Former paint firm building to become social flats Stafford Borough Council
