by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Conference venues across the county are being given a chance to win more council business.

A partnership between Maidstone Borough Council and Kent County Council aims to save money on meetings while giving venues a chance to bid for more work.

Under the deal, Maidstone council's Kent Conference Bureau will handle KCC inquiries about possible venues.

Although KCC has pledged to cut the number of meetings to save costs, for example replacing them by video conferencing, it says there will always be instances where groups of people from across the county need to meet face to face.

If a KCC or partner venue is already booked or the wrong size, other suitable venues will be offered a chance to quote for the job. The aim is to reduce the need to travel too far.

Cllr Richard Ash, Maidstone council's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, said: "The service is the only dedicated Conference Bureau in Kent and is responsible for the development of business tourism and promotes Kent as an important niche conference destination in the UK and Europe.

"The bureau continues to play a key role in promoting the county as a first class destination for conferences, incentives and events.

"It shows what Kent has to offer, providing impartial advice and offering a range of free services to both conference organisers and venues."

Roger Gough, KCC Cabinet Member for Corporate Support Services and Performance Management, added: "We need to be able to meet colleagues and partners to make decisions about services which will affect Kent's residents.

"However we need to do this in the most cost effective way and this new partnership will save time, money and improve the way we work."