by Chris Hunter
chunter@thekmgroup.co.uk

A new shared council computer system will save hundreds of thousands of pounds for Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Swale councils – great news, unless you’ve got one of the jobs being made redundant.
The three councils have banded together under the umbrella organisation of the Mid Kent Improvement Partnership, and are discussing plans to share an ICT system which could save them upwards of £370,000.
But a draft report has said £179,000 of the savings would come from axing 3.7 full time employees across all councils.
Maidstone council leader Chris Garland said: “There will be some unfortunate job losses, but people will be given the opportunity to apply for jobs elsewhere. We will do what we can to assist.
“We’ve got to save money across our services, and deliver to the public when they come to use our services."

For the full story see this week's Kent Messenger, out now.