Ashford BC and Maidstone BC have joined forces to create a single internal audit service for both local authorities. The deal will see a team being formed of staff from both councils to check how Ashford and Maidstone are performing.

Audit manager, Brian Parsons, said they had been trialling the partnership for a year. ‘I believe this is the first time, certainly in Kent, that two authorities have entered into an audit partnership, and if results so far are anything to go by, I hope it will be the first of many more opportunities for Maidstone and Ashford to work together,' said Mr Parsons. The two councils are also looking at other areas where they can work together, including information technology and the Internet.