Business group call for 'Kent-first' economic policy

Kent County Council did not reply to the BBC's request for comment

A business group leader has urged councils in Kent to adopt a "Kent-first" procurement policy.

Dr Tim Aker, founder of the Kent Business Alliance, wants councils to favour local firms when awarding contracts to give them a "slice of the pie".

It would boost wages, employment and investment in the local economy, he told the BBC.

Kent County Council has been approached for comment.

Dr Aker said the procurement of goods, services and works to deliver public services was a policy area councils controlled over central government.

"You see all of these negative stories that we cannot change, but our local authorities can do this," he said.

"They have the freedom to put a Kent-first policy into place."

'Let's make 1,000 flowers bloom'

Each individual local authority across Kent is responsible for their own procurement.

Some were very good at procuring locally, according to Dr Aker.

However, others did not at all and "absurdly" awarded contracts to firms as far away as Liverpool, he added.

"How is that fair?" he said, adding that if local firms were more expensive it was a "price worth paying".

Dr Aker also claimed a lack of will was holding some councils back from going Kent-first.

"Let's make 1,000 flowers bloom and see what comes out of this," he said.

Other councils do not collect data on local procurement, urging them to change this, Dr Aker continued.

"We know sunshine is the best disinfectant. We need to know so dialogue can begin between local authorities and businesses," he said.

"We need transparency."