Kent County Council backs Kent Businesses in Westminster

Kent County Council is backing Kent's business community with a seminar held at the heart of government on Wednesday, June 17.

The burden of bureaucracy, the challenges facing business and the role of local and national government in supporting the economy is being debated at the House of Commons event.

Around 100 business and local government leaders, national policy makers and think tanks are attending the seminar organised by Kent County Council and supported by the British Chambers of Commerce.

Paul Carter and Kevin Lynes (Paul Carter is expected to be confirmed as Leader of Kent County Council and Kevin Lynes is expected to be confirmed as Cabinet Member for Regeneration at the full council meeting on Thursday 25 June) are speaking about Kent's Backing Kent Business campaign and using the event to lobby the government to make it easier for local firms to bid for work from local authorities.

Paul Carter said: "The burdens facing businesses of all shapes and sizes are enormous: reduced turnover, challenging banking conditions and the ever increasing rise in bureaucracy and regulation.

"This conference today is about what local government can do to support businesses to survive and flourish. Kent has a significant role in lobbying for a bonfire of bureaucracy and regulation and creating an environment in Kent that is conducive to business.

"In December, Kent County Council launched Backing Kent Business, has been at the cutting edge of innovation to advance the skills and qualifications of young people, and is starting to build an exciting Education and Business partnership.

"We are doing all we can to improve skills sets in our young people so they are "oven ready" for the world of work.

"The planning process in my view is far too arduous and bureaucratic and in times of recession must be freed up. The world has changed, the planning processes need to respond to a whole new set of challenges if the housing and development industry is to start to build momentum."

Kevin Lynes said: "The public sector has a duty to support local people and their employers. Spend across the public sector runs into billions of pounds. It makes sense that we bring the two together.

"This is why we have made a commitment to support local businesses, make it easier for them to do business with us, make access to help easier, and lobby on their behalf to reduce some of the negative and stifling red tape they face.

"We want the government to give the public sector more freedom to support businesses and in turn benefit the local workforce and economy."

The seminar is being chaired by Andy Love MP, Labour Member of the All Party Businesses Group. Caroline Spelman, Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, is a keynote speaker.

Source: Kent County Council