A regional Sunday paper has taken the unusual step of inviting council leaders to sit on an editorial advisory board.

Kent on Sunday, which is not ABC-audited but claims to have a circulation in excess of 40,000, has named Kent County Council leader Paul Carter and Medway Council leader Rodney Chambers on its eight-person panel.

According to publisher Archant, board members will offer advice on whether the paper is sticking to 10 “guiding principles” set out as part of a redesign and relaunch of the paper this weekend.