by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Local councils have come out reasonably well in a poll of small firms - but there are complaints about planning and highway services.

Almost half of the members of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) responding to a recent email survey contacted their local authority within the previous 12 months.

The most common services sought by small businesses were guidance on rules surrounding liquor, music and taxi licensing. Other issues were food safety, hygiene and consumer protection.

Local authorities in south east England achieved higher levels of satisfaction for their services when compared to the UK as a whole.

Roger House, FSB chairman for Kent and Medway (pictured above right), said: "The FSB is pleased councils in south east England ranked highly for their business support, licensing and regulatory services. We trust the district councils, Medway Council and Kent County Council will maintain the quality of their services to local firms."

He added: "In common with the rest of the UK, the highest levels of dissatisfaction were for planning and highway services."