PAUL Carter will be fighting to retain his leadership of Kent County Council next month after two of his former cabinet members announced their intentions to challenge him for the role.

Councillor Nick Chard, cabinet member for highways until February, launched his bid by firing off a stinging e-mail to Mr Carter, which he copied to the rest of the Tory group.

In his e-mail of September 7, Mr Chard criticised his boss for causing "unnecessary damage" to the administration, and claimed there was a lack of trust between officers and members.

Mr Chard's message read: "I have been unhappy with elements of your leadership for some time, even before your curt dismissal of me.

"There is an opportunity for us all to 'put up or shut up' at our AGM next month.

"I intend to be a candidate for the leadership of our group.

"I want for the people we serve to see a change for the better."

One of Mr Chard's highways predecessors, Councillor Keith Ferrin, also threw his hat in the ring on Monday by e-mailing the Tory group, although he was unavailable for comment this week.

Mr Carter has been leader since 2005 but there has been disquiet in some quarters for several months, particularly with the level of cuts being made.

The council is undergoing a restructuring exercise in a bid to save £165 million over the next two years.

Things came to a head at a meeting of the Tory group on September 5 when Mr Carter was forced into a humiliating U-turn over his decision to reduce the number of community liaison managers.

There are currently 12 – one per district – and Mr Carter had wanted to cut these to just 7.

One member described the meeting as a "bloody affair".

"It was very rough," they added.

"A lot of people turned up and said the leadership had got it wrong and needed to go back on the decision."

The following day Mr Carter wrote to his councillors saying he had "reflected overnight on the very strong views held by a significant number".

He promised to find the "additional resource" to bring the number of liaison managers back up to 12.

Mr Carter added: "Once again, I apologise that cabinet may have jumped the gun on this issue."

But just hours later Mr Chard – who was sacked by Mr Carter as the cabinet member for environment, highways and waste earlier this year – announced his intention to stand.

The leadership election is due to take place on October 14.

Mr Carter said: "Many kind things are being said about my leadership."