Medway Council hopes to invest £205,000 over two years to fund the bid to become City of Culture 2025.

Medway announced its bid to become the UK City of Culture in 2025 in July.

It has the potential to bring not only a year-long programme of fun events highlighting everything positive about Medway, but also the huge economic and social benefits seen in cities of culture like Hull.

At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday night, Medway councillors discussed the ongoing campaign.

Medway Council leader Cllr Alan Jarrett and his colleagues passed a motion asking for full council to allow £205,000 to go towards the bid.

The recommendations are outlined in a report called Medway City of Culture 2025 which also gives reasons why Medway could win.

If the investment gets the green light, the money will fund a three-person strong Bid Team - a manager, someone to oversee communications and a bid officer.

The team will work for two years, thinking of new initiatives and highlighting existing arts and heritage in the Towns to help Medway beat other cities in the running.

The money will come from council reserves.

It is also hoped Medway Council can secure £150,000 of external investment to back the bid.

Many of the councillors believe Medway is already a place of culture, with history and diversity at its heart.

Cllr Howard Doe (Con) said: "The only thing that stands between us and the current city of culture, in my view, that is the confidence of local people.

"If they believe as we believe, we can do it.

"We want to add to the life of the towns

"We've made lots of progress since the dockyard shut, more and more people are beginning to believe.

"I think you'll see a steep change.

"We're asking the public to come with us on this journey, one which, I think, will transform the lives of people who live here."

Cllr Adrian Gulvin (Con) added that he was delighted to see the diverse cultures of Medway come together at a show at the Central Theatre, Chatham.

He watched Chinese dancers, children playing African drums and Lithuanian singers.

He said: "I then went to Fort Amherst to a production of the Chatham Witch; I thought it was extremely professional.

"I was expecting to go to the brand new amphitheatre but I was marched all round the fort, watching lots of different performances, it was fantastic.

"Medway is great, we just need to put the icing and a few cherries on the cake.

"This is meant to put Medway on the map, but I think we're there already."

Cabinet passed the motion and the funding will be discussed at full council in October.

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