Chip & pin banking
The Town Council is pleased to announce that a chip and pin banking facility will be available shortly for local residents wishing to hire the Murray and Kingsley halls or booking football pitches on the Roding Valley Recreation Ground or Willingale Road Playing Field who will be able to use their credit/debit cards rather than cheques/cash, either in person at the council offices or by telephone. This will greatly improve the service offered to our residents.
Another advantage is that booking for events at the Murray Hall such as the Essex on Tour shows will be much easier. Why not join us for an evening of jazz at the hall on 30 April 2010.

Loughton Film Club
A visit to the cinema for Loughton residents means a trip to Harlow, South Woodford or even further afield.
As part of the Town Council’s plans to encourage greater community use of the Murray Hall, an opportunity has arisen to start a local film club, meeting monthly and showing a wide selection of films chosen by its members.
Before we can choose the first film together, we need to find out whether there is sufficient local interest in this idea to run a taster session. So if you‘d like to be involved in bringing the big screen to Loughton, please call Shirley Haynes on 020 8508 4200 at the Town Council to register your interest.

Tea Dances
Tea Dances are becoming increasingly popular as they provide a great opportunity for socialising and keeping active. So why not join us at the Murray Hall for a cup of tea and a slice of cake, and a chance to try out your waltz, tango, cha-cha-cha or quickstep to the musical hits of yesteryear. No need to bring a partner, just join the queue.
For more details and dates of the next event call 020 8508 4200.

War Memorial
Many compliments have been received by the council following the cleaning of the War Memorial on King’s Green.
Previously we reported that the Town Council had agreed to fund the work and our thanks go to Paul Andrews from Arcadian Stone who carried out a very careful and thorough job and Graham Tite, the Senior Historic Buildings Advisor from Essex County Council who monitored the works and gave us such valuable advice.
The council is now considering a report from the stonemasons and will decide whether further restoration works are necessary to ensure the memorial continues to look its best.

New member of staff appointed
Barry Hooker joined Loughton Town Council in September as an Assistant Caretaker at the Murray Hall.
A former printer, he has lived in Theydon Bois for over 20 years, so he knows the area well. Barry describes himself as an outdoor enthusiast, keeping fit with cycling and enjoying camping away at the weekends, but only during the summer time!
He looks forward to meeting the wide variety of hirers using the town council’s busy community hall.

Citizenship Awards 2010
Loughton residents and local businesses, colleges, schools, groups and societies are invited to nominate people for the 2010 Citizenship Awards. This scheme, set up by the town council in 2008, recognises those individuals who have given service to the local community either by performing an act of outstanding courage or bravery, or undertaking outstanding voluntary service in the town. This could include working tirelessly for a voluntary organisation, continual good-neighbourliness, running a campaign to improve community facilities or cohesion, or to combat some defect or lack of provision or, e.g. to resist something that might adversely affect the environment of the town. This category also includes an award to young people under 25 years of age.
Awards will be made at the town’s annual Civic Service to be held at the Loughton Methodist Church in February where winners will be presented with an illuminated scroll and a £250 cheque for their favourite charity.
For full details and a nomination form contact the council on 020 8508 4200 or visit Strategic Documents and Policies.
The closing date for nominations is 31 January 2010.

Broadway Ward Election - Result of Poll
Declaration of result of poll for the election of a Town Councillor for Loughton Broadway held on Thursday 10 December 2009.
I, Ian Willett being the Returning Officer at the above election, do hereby give notice that the number of votes recorded for each candidate at the said election is as follows:

Name of Candidate: Bostock, Jill Elizabeth
Description: Labour
Number of Votes: 204

Name of Candidate: Kalkat, Iqbal Singh
Description: Conservatives
Number of Votes: 75

Name of Candidate: Long, Edward John
Description: British National Party
Number of Votes: 234

Name of Candidate: Nicholson, Katie
Description: Loughton Residents Association
Number of Votes: 257 Elected

Christmas Lights
The Town Council is once again helping ensure that the Christmas lights will bring cheer to the two main shopping areas despite the economic gloom, with grants totalling £8,000 given to support the Town Centre Partnerships.
We hope you will join in the Christmas lights switch-on celebrations, which start in Loughton High Road on Friday 27 November at St Mary’s Church when free mince pies, mulled wine and fruit juice will be warming the Christmas spirit as the Christmas lights are switched on at 4pm by the Town Mayor, Cllr Ken Angold-Stephens.
This event organised by the High Road Town Centre Partnership, will include music performances from Staples Road School and Roding Valley High School, as well as drama entertainment from the Loughton Youth Theatre and dance by iD.

Christmas on Broadway
Make a date in your diary to meet Father & Mrs Christmas, who with their helpers Frostie the snowman, Percy the penguin and Eddy the mischievous elf, will all be at the Broadway on Friday 4 December to celebrate the switch-on ceremony for the Christmas lights. The Christmas revelry kicks off from 3pm with Town Mayor, Cllr Ken Angold-Stephens, turning on the lights at 3.45pm.
Enjoy the free Christmas pies and mulled wine and free sweets for the children. Other children’s activities will include free face painting and ‘spot the Santas’ hidden around the Broadway. And if that isn’t enough, just to set the Christmas mood, there will be festive music from members of Epping Forest College and other local schools all organised by the Broadway Town Centre Partnership including a raffle with three 1st prizes of a ‘free Christmas dinner’.

Notice of Conclusion of Audit & right to inspect the Annual Return
Annual Return for the year ended 31 March 2009
Section 14 of the Audit Commission Act 1998
The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/533)

1 The audit of accounts for the Loughton Town Council for the year ended 31st March 2009 has been concluded and the certificate approving the accounts was issued on 24th September 2009.
2 The annual return is available for inspection by any local government elector for the area of Loughton Town Council on application to:
Mrs Enid K Walsh, Town Clerk. Loughton Town Council, 1 Buckingham Court, Rectory Lane, Loughton. IG10 2QZ
between 9.30am and 4.30pm on Mondays to Fridays (excluding public holidays), when any local government elector may make copies of the annual return.
3 A copy has also been placed on the Council’s web site at Strategic Documents and Policies. Copies will be provided to any local government elector on payment of £2.40 for each copy of the annual return.
Enid K Walsh, Town Clerk
14th October 2009

Flag Pole
As part of the Town Council’s policy to increase Civic Pride, a flag pole has been installed on the Council building at Buckingham Court, near the top of Rectory Lane.

The Union flag will be flown on official flag flying days with the St George’s flag reserved for 23rd April each year.