Kent County Council is among 10 local authorities with the largest number of problem families in England.

As a result, KCC revealed it is to sign up to a Government incentive to tackle the issue.

It involves a payment by results system which will see councils receive £4,000 per family for getting children back into school and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.

Councils will also be rewarded for getting adults back to work and helping reduce the annual £9bn costs in dealing with problem families.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles unveiled the Troubled Families Programme this week.

The Government’s aim is to turn around the lives of 2,560 unruly households by 2015.

It says KCC stands to gain a potential £8.5 million if it achieves all of its targets in the next three years.

Council leader Paul Carter said: “Kent is keen to support and play an active role in the Troubled Families Programme, to make a difference to people’s lives as well as use public money more effectively.

“Parents will be able to improve their children’s education, health and work opportunities and ultimately this will boost local neighbourhoods.”

For a council to satisfy the payment by results criteria, a child has to have a school attendance record of more than 85% and fewer than three exclusions.

There also has to be a 60% reduction in anti-social behaviour across the whole family and a 33% cut in youth offending.

Families also have to show a commitment to enrolling in a work programme.