Epping Forest’s new council chairman will focus her fundraising efforts on community groups helping people through the coronavirus pandemic.

Chairmen conventionally choose two specific charities to focus on, but due to the unprecedented impact of Covid-19, newly elected Epping Forest District Council chairman Helen Kane will split her focus between charities.

Councillor Helen Kane was elected at the council’s first ever virtual annual meeting on Thursday, May 21.

Accepting the role, Cllr Kane said because of social distancing it would be some time before she could start attending events or fundraising.

She added: “We owe a lot of thanks to many people, our refuse collectors, postmen and all those on the frontline as well as our officers who are mostly working from home at this time.

“They are doing an excellent job issuing business grants, food parcels and setting up and running these virtual meetings for councillors, all on top of doing their normal work.”

Cllr Kane first became involved in local politics in 2009 as a Waltham Abbey town councillor and served as the town mayor for two consecutive years.

She was elected to Epping Forest District in 2012.

Handing over his chain of office, outgoing Chairman Richard Bassett said he and his wife Sue had enjoyed two years in the role.

He added: “I tried to attend as many things as possible and met an amazing number of wonderful people.”

At the virtual meeting, Cllr Chris Whitbread was appointed leader of the council with Cllr Nigel Bedford named his deputy.

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