

A heavy workload for the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny committee resulted in two meetings in just one week at the start of the new Civic Year.
At the first meeting on 3 June, Council Leader Chris Whitbread outlined Corporate priorities for the year highlighting the theme of renewal.
Watch 3 June meeting
Council housebuilding
Council Leader Chris Whitbread said:
The world has changed so much in the past year and the Council has adapted its ways of working to encompass that. This is further demonstrated by the newly refurbished Civic Office in Epping scheduled to open soon.
The Local Plan is a top priority for 2021/22 and he highlighted the risks that not having a definitive plan will pose. He also flagged up the Council’s housebuilding programme, saying it is something to be proud of and that the mix of tenancies is particularly important to support younger people in the district.
Qualis
Council Leader Chris Whitbread said:
Qualis with its development sites in Epping and future projects in years to come will, bring vital income allowing the Council to maintain a low Council Tax for its residents.
Watch 8 June meeting
Regeneration of town centres
Regeneration of town centres was on the 8 June agenda with a series of independent reports aimed at re-invigorating the district’s High Streets in the wake of Covid-19.
Members scrutinised the comprehensive reports prepared for Epping, Buckhurst Hill and Loughton High Street and Broadway.
The reports advocate a partnerships approach involving town teams, made up of businesses, local people and parish/town councils to lead on big issues.
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