23 October 2018

Councillor’s Corner 18/19 No 8 - A Board U Turn

Pitmen supporter and HTFCSA committee member Paul Woodhead is a Cannock Chase District Councillor for Hednesford. You will see him around the ground most match days, usually as Pitman Pete and in the Strikers Bar after the game where you can talk to him about any matters or issues of concern.

In these articles I want to bring the role of the councillor alive to you and ensure I am accountable to you as the elected representative for the ward in which the football club resides. I will highlight some of the things I get involved with and the decisions the council makes on your behalf. I will be available after most home games for a general conversation and we can arrange a private discussion should that be appropriate. Alternatively you can contact me by phone on 07930 120077 or by email paul.woodhead@greenparty.org.uk

Over the last eighteen months Cannock Chase District Council has consulted upon and implemented a policy to charge traders in the town centres of Hednesford, Cannock and Rugeley to display advertising boards and having pavement cafes. This has caused wide concerns by traders and shoppers alike with campaigns to reverse the policy.

Bowing to public pressure the Council agreed to set up a Task and Finish Group to review the policy and present recommendations for a way forward. Today (Tuesday) this group reported back on the A Board policy to the subcommittee and information can be found at Cannock Chase Council website under council meetings.

The recommendation back to the committee is for the Policy to be replaced with an existing Staffordshire County Council guidance document, bringing us full circle. This is a sensible way forward which will see those who have paid fees having them returned and those who have removed their boards from the street-scene return them to add the vibrancy our town needs.

If the subcommittee approved the recommendation it will come back to the November Full Council meeting (via a cabinet meeting) for approval or not.

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