COUNTY councillors are being kitted out with state-of-the-art IT equipment in a move KCC says will help revolutionise the way they work.

All 84 members are to be offered the chance to be equipped with either Blackberry phones or laptop computers.

Kent County Council says using up-to-date computer technology will enable members to stay in touch with constituents and each other. Councillors will also be expected to use their laptops to update their personal council web pages.

Members of KCC’s Conservative cabinet - the authority’s key decision-making body - already have their own mobile phones and laptops.

But now all councillors have the option of being issued with similar equipment.

To date, 26 members have opted for a Blackberry mobile phone, although they will be barred from making phone calls on them. Another 50 councillors have opted for laptops.

The cost of providing IT equipment to councillors is in the region of £100,000 but over the next four years, KCC says it expects to save around £150,000 because every councillor will be using similar equipment that is compatible with the county council’s.

Councillors had been entitled to £1,000 as part of their allowances to account for computer use but that has now ended.

Cllr Kevin Lynes, (Con) KCC cabinet member for resources, said: "If councillors are to do their job to the best of their ability, they need access to the internet for all sorts of research and send e-mails.

"We are not trying to create a super race of councillors who are specced-up to the eyeballs."

There would be "significant" savings over the next few years, he added.