EPPING Forest residents will now have to pay slightly more council tax after council bosses voted through a minor increase.

Epping Forest Council's council tax for the 2024/2025 year will now see a nominal increase of just over nine pence per week for an average household.

Councillors believe the price hike, made at a council meeting on February 20, is most the affordable district council precept in Essex.

Under the new rates, a family living in a Band D property will contribute approximately £2,100.67 per year to Epping Forest Council.

However, Epping Forest only retains a fraction of this amount – £167 – to fund its services.

The remaining £1,933.67 is divided amongst Essex County Council, the office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, and local town and parish councils.

Additional funding for the council will be generated from various activities.

These range from charges for car parks and leisure activities, with the council's partnership with Places Leisure ensuring the successful operation and development of leisure facilities across the district.

Council leader Chris Whitbread said: "We do much more than just collect the bins.

"We have closed an initial gap between income and expenditure of £3.7 million at the start of the budget setting process for 2024/2025.

"We have been able to protect some of the most valued discretionary services we provide including our three additional police officers to safeguard local residents for at least another year.

"Highway rangers will continue to clean and maintain our towns, villages and countryside.

"While most residents will focus on the headline numbers, council tax payments retained by Epping Forest Council to fund its own services represents less than eight per cent of the total.

"Council tax provides only a fraction of the money needed to deliver district services residents value most.

"As central government funding has declined and costs have increased, Epping Forest Council’s investments in commercial income, including rent from commercial property has become increasingly important."

New developments include a state-of-the-art leisure centre in Epping, with public swimming pools promised by the end of 2025.

The long-term outlook for the council includes a new depot for waste and recycling collection services, built on their own land in North Weald.

The sale of another portion of the airfield has generated a significant capital receipt, earmarked for reinvestment into the council's Fit for the Future programme.