Council housing comes under fire

Council house services in an area of County Durham have come under fire from a government watchdog.

The Audit Commission gave Easington District Council's repair and maintenance services one star out of a possible three.

Access to disabled services were also criticised, but gas safety checks and condition surveys were praised.

The council says it has taken the recommendations on board and many problems have already been addressed.

The report lists a number of problems with the council's housing services, including an average 46-week wait for new windows and doors.

It also says the council spends 60% of its budget on responsive repairs, 20% more than the recommended maximum.

However, the Audit Commission acknowledged that the council's repair and maintenance services showed "promising prospects for improvement".

A spokeswoman for Easington District Council said all the weaknesses identified in the report have been addressed and many of the recommendations have already been delivered.