A Kent council has scooped a national award after becoming the first authority in England to become self-sufficient.

Sevenoaks District Council was named overall winner at the Guardian's Public Service Awards on Tuesday evening after it's 'ground-breaking' financial strategy.

In the face of swingeing cuts imposed by Government the authority borrowed £10m at low interest to buy a petrol station, former working men's club and office block.

Central government funding was slashed to £633,000 this year and will be cut to nothing in 2017.

The list of property investment are as follows:

• Texaco garage / Coop convenience store, Swanley
• Suffolk House offices, Sevenoaks
• The Former Working Men’s Club, Swanley
• The multi decked car park (currently under construction), Sevenoaks. This is being built on a car park site owned by the Council for many years
• Hotel (will be leased by Premier Inns once built) in Sevenoaks on a car park owned by the council.

Sevenoaks District Council's chief executive, Dr Pav Ramewal, who spearheaded the investment plan, also says money has been saved by not contracting out its services.

Speaking to the Guardian, Dr Ramewal said: "If you control all of your costs then it is easier to make savings ... if you have outsourced services and there are changes in [how you want to run] the service, that requires a change in the contract – and the contactor charges for that.”

Cllr Peter Fleming, leader of Sevenoaks District Council, adds: "This is a very proud moment for me, my fellow councillors and council staff as it validates the often difficult work we have been doing over many years. We faced serious competition from excellent organisations from the across the public sector, so to be given the overall winner award is a great honour.”

"Foreseeing the removal of government grant early, we took difficult decisions to reduce costs, whilst protecting services to the public and the radical step early on to invest in assets that generate income for the Council.

"These in turn can be used to support the services the public say mean most to them such as the weekly rubbish and recycling collection."