• Highways crew responsible for gritting highest village in England visits local school in Staffordshire Moorlands.

• The crew showed Blackshaw Moor First School pupils their gritter and explained how grit works

• School staff say that the children loved the experience, while the gritting crew enjoyed the children's enthusiasm and questions

• Planning application for waste treatment facility near Stafford set for appeal hearing in April

• County council committee rejected the plans for Hixon Industrial Estate

• Parish council and residents opposed to plans

Acting Leader Martin Murray has reacted to the recent Government announcement on Foundation Strategic Authorities.

• Leaders gather at Lichfield Cathedral for We Are Staffordshire roundtable event

• Discussion focuses on strengthening place identity and civic pride through culture

• New Cultural Strategy set to be launched

• New Staffy Trail of 3D sculptures aims to boost Staffordshire’s visitor economy

• Businesses encouraged to sponsor, with opportunities from £100

• Part of the 10th Staffordshire Day celebrations, supporting a £2.7bn visitor economy

• New Strategic Direction for county council approved

• Plan focuses on five core priorities

• Communities at heart of two-year direction

• Updated Natural Environment Strategy sets out how the county council will protect and enhance nature across Staffordshire.

• New actions include targeted species recovery, wildlife friendly verge management, natural flood solutions, hedgerow restoration and installing features like bat boxes on new council developments.

• Biodiversity Report shows strong progress since 2024, including habitat restoration, targeted action for species, reduced peat and pesticide use, pollinator planting and growing community involvement.

• Staffordshire parents Steph and Matt praise Staffordshire County Council's Hungry Little Minds campaign for the help its given them in raising their daughter, as they become the 8,000th family to sign up.

• The campaign gives advice on actions they can take with their child at each age and stage, including to read and talk to their baby from the moment they're born.

• It launched in 2020 and sends personalised emails to parents twice a month.

• Staffordshire County Council is supporting the Young Friends Against Scams campaign, which provides guidance to young people on protecting themselves from scams.

• The campaign features learning tools to teach young people how to spot fraud, which exists across countless areas such as buying concert tickets, gaming purchases and fake photography/modelling services.

• Young people are asked to sign up as a Young Friend Against Scams to share advice that they have learnt to others.

• Cannock Family Hub continues to support hundreds of families across the district.

• The Family Hub works closely with local organisations, such as West Chadsmoor Family Centre and Cannock Chase Teen ASC and Mental Health Group, which provide weekly sessions that range from helping babies to neurodivergent teenagers.

• More support available at the centre, and rooms at Rugeley Community Centre, include early years activities, well-baby clinics, school nurse sessions, SEND support and much more.