When preparing for his job interview for Thanet Council, the now director of community services, Rob Kenyon, says he was looking at the council's past plans when he came across a statement that said: ‘We have the ambition to be average for east Kent.'

He felt there was a lack of ambition that could be improved upon. Now, he says the council's targets are to be in line with national targets, to be the ‘best in class' in Kent, or to beat the previous year's performance – whichever is the highest.