by political editor Paul Francis

Kent County Council has yet to spend a single penny of a £5 million 'Big Society' fund it has set aside to help volunteer groups to take over council-run services.

The money was agreed as part of the council's budget package eight months ago but to date none of the money has been allocated.

The Big Society fund was established to provide grants to charities, volunteer groups and social entrepeneurs with the aim of providing money to help them step in and provide some services.

KCC, which says the fund will also tackle the dependency culture, also wants to use the money to allow such groups to compete against the private sector to run services.

Opposition parties have criticised the authority for failing to use any of the money at a time when many voluntary groups and charities are feeling the squeeze because of public sector spending cuts.

Labour spokesman Cllr Les Christie said: "The Big Society is a bit of a farce. It is really just a slogan and nobody knows what it means. I believe there are many in Kent who would be better served by the government providing services."

The issue surfaced when KCC finally agreed to increase care charges for several thousand residents in a move designed to save nearly £3m. Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors argued the £5 million fund should be used instead.

The council has insisted its plans for a Big Society fund are on track.

Cllr Mike Hill, KCC cabinet member for customer and communities, said: "Plans are progressing and we are now finalising the operational model for the fund, which is likely to involve an external partner. We aim to launch the fund by the end of this year."

In a masterplan outlining KCC's plans, "Bold Steps For Kent", the authority said: "We can support the development and growth of the voluntary and community sectors...in particular, providing relatively small cash injections to facilitate new social enterprises to compete for contracts."