Prompter payment and easier access to council contracts - just two pledges from Kent County Council to help firms through recession.

The authority stiffened earlier promises to support businesses in these hard times with a package of practical measures designed to create jobs - "Kent jobs for Kent people" -and bring forward spending projects.

Council leader Paul Carter told more than 100 business leaders that he was launching a support package as part of what he dubbed "Backing Kent Business" campaign.

He said an £850million capital spending programme would be driven forward over the next two years to provide more employment opportunities for Kent firms.

At a business breakfast run jointly with Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce in The Orangery, Turkey Mill, Maidstone, he signalled a closer relationship between council and business.

This relationship has been fractured in recent months by the council’s commercial activities that compete with the private sector, including recruitment, bus and coach travel, and property maintenance.

Some firms were so incensed by what they claimed was unfair competition that they launched a campaign group "KCC - Hands off Business."

But Cllr Carter went out of his way to pacify them by pledging a series of measures. He said: "I want to ensure there are as many Kent jobs created for Kent people as possible.

"I am determined that we will support Kent businesses as far as is possible through this difficult economic recession."

He promised to speed up the payment of invoices from 30 days to 20, and said that in some cases it was already achieved within seven days.

He said KCC spent 40 per cent of its budget on goods and services - more than £320 million a year - with small and medium-sized Kent businesses.

Contracts had been awarded to local firm R Durtnell and Sons to build the Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margate, and the £600million Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme involved work for Kent architects and builders.

Cllr Carter added: "I want to do even more and make it easier for local firms to access contracts like these and take advantage of others in the region such as the construction of the Olympic sites. We will also aim to pay our suppliers quicker and help businesses to access grant aid."

Other pledged included a Kent Property Enterprise Fund and a Kent Business Support Centre on KCC’s website to improve access to council procurement.

Jo James, the chief executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce said: "I very much welcome the initiatives being put forward by Kent County Council.

"I realise that Kent businesses are now starting to feel the full impact of the current economic climate and am therefore pleased with KCC’s efforts to maximise the business potential of the county and co-operation between the business representative organisations within Kent."