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Members of Epping Forest District Council mourned the tragic events in nearby Southend at full council on 28 October.
Minute’s silence
They observed a minute’s silence to the memory of Sir David Amess MP as well as 2 former council chairman, Doug Kelly and Harry Taylor who passed away recently.
Richard Morgan MBE
Turning to lighter matters, Council Chairman, Helen Kane congratulated Councillor Richard Morgan on the award of his MBE, and to Councillor John Whitehouse for completion of the London Marathon.
Christmas recycling news
Councillor Nigel Avey appealed to residents to help the Council’s recycling collection crews in the run up to Christmas.
There has been a noticeable increase in the amount of cardboard recycling associated with home deliveries. Collection crews are struggling to keep up with the extra demand and to help them, have asked residents to place the cardboard in recycling sacks rather than leaving it loose.
Other questions
Members of the Cabinet took questions on a range of topics including:
- Planning policy and the Local Plan
- Supply of new or replacement wheelie bins
- Availability of HGV licensed drivers for the refuse and recycling service
- Qualis
- Customer services
- Local authority land searches
- Budgets for 2022 to 2023
- Support for local businesses following the Chancellors announcements in the latest Budget
- Support for elderly residents during the winter months
- Housing
Universal Credit motion
Councillors amended a motion to call on local MPs to lobby central government not to remove the temporary £20 uplift in Universal Credit. Taking account of the changes announced in the previous day’s Budget, including the increase in the minimum wage to £9.50 and the reduction of 8% in the Universal Credit taper to 55%.
Councillors on all sides of the chamber recognised the difficulties local residents on the lowest incomes continue to face despite gradual emergence from the pandemic.
Other updates
Councillors also received updates from the Audit and Governance Committee, Constitution Working Group and Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
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