Kent have indeed entered into a formal agreement with Essex for air support as one of a number of cross boundary service sharing arrangements. Having met quite a few of the senior people in both forces I can say there is a huge willingness to get full air support in both counties as soon as possible but until there is more money this is the best arrangement that can be found.
The Essex, Cambs and Suffolk Consortium have been providing air support to Kent for quite a few years now (amongst others) on a paid per sortie basis so I guess this is the next logical step if full funding for a 'Kent' ASU is still not available.
I think were entering an era of financial constraint that will see more single county ASU's looking to share costs with willing partners or expanding consortium arrangements, and in an odd way is moving towards what we at ASU's have been calling for for a long time, a more 'national or at least Regional Air Support Organisation'
Just my honest opinion
regards to all