Which companies might want to sponsor a town?

By Jonathan Isaby

Kent Online reports that Conservative-run Kent County Council has a new money-spinning idea:

"Your village or town - and grass verges near where you live -  could be sponsored under plans by Kent County Council to raise cash. The scheme is an extension of an initiative to allow companies to advertise on roundabouts, which started in 2007 and already makes thousands of pounds for the authority."

Cllr Roger Gough, the cabinet member for corporate services, explains:

"There is a revenue potential here which is not to be sniffed at and it will offer a platform for local businesses to advertise. Obviously, we will want to strike a sensible balance and we do have the power to veto anything we think might not be appropriate."

The idea of town signs being sponsored got me thinking. In Kent, surely an ideal sponsor for the town of Sandwich would be Hovis?

Further afield, an insurance company could make its mark on a Lancashire town to make it Admiral Nelson.

And surely the Shropshire town of Wellington ought to be linked to Boot's?

Am sure readers have more ideas of their own...

CCHQ fury at BBC Today programme's reporting of Tory schools policy

Earlier today the Today programme led on a report that the Tory leader of Kent County Council, Paul Carter, disagreed with Michael Gove's education policy. Michael Gove was interviewed on Today and gave a combative response. He insisted that Cllr Carter was "100% supportive of our proposals".

Cllr Carter has now issued a clarification through CCHQ:

“I am 100% behind Michael Gove’s education plans, which will introduce more competition, give parents more choice and help drive up standards across the country. The BBC is trying to create a division between us that doesn’t exist. An issue I have been discussing with Michael is ensuring that funding between different types of schools is fair and equitable, and I’m totally confident that this would be the case with a Conservative government.”

Tim Montgomerie

The Apprentice Boys of Kent

Cllr Paul Carter, leader of Kent County Council, here gives a report on what his Council is doing for the young, with an emphasis on backing apprenticeships.

Kent County Council has been working over the last 10 years on the transformation of secondary education, delivering diversity and choice appropriate to the ambition, aspiration and ability of our young people.

10 years ago the learning experience for young people across the country in secondary schools was generally uninspiring and failing to educate young people for a fast changing technological world.

In Kent we have been on a journey of secondary school transformation - giving broad curriculum choice, embracing technology through teacher support and the personal learning agenda, with a major goal to enable all young people to reach their full potential with only part of the journey being academic attainment.

As the government works on transforming education for 14 to 19 year olds, Kent County Council has gone one stage further with the creation of the 14-24 Innovation Unit to respond to the rapidly changing education and skills legislation and welfare reforms.