HOUSING officials in West Somerset have defended their record on providing affordable homes for people on low incomes in the face of criticism from an independent watchdog.

The Audit Commission has called on West Somerset Council to do more for residents after it gave the council zero marks for its housing service.

In a report published today (Thursday) the commission says West Somerset Council's housing services are poor' with uncertain prospects for improvement'.

On a scale from zero to three stars, the commission inspection team gave the council no stars, saying performance in several key areas of the service, notably delivery of affordable housing and improving conditions of private housing, was poor and the council's strategic approach to tackling these problems under developed.

Patrick Mooney, the commission's head of housing in the south region, said: "The council recognises that better and more affordable housing is a priority for local people but has yet to have a real impact."

The inspectors found the delivery of new affordable housing had fallen below the council's own targets; there had been a weak approach to managing private sector affordable housing issues; the housing service did not have in place robust systems for delivering value for money; and performance management was under-developed and lacked the involvement of councillors.

The criticism comes as the council has offered for sale cheap homes at the Shutgate Meadow development in Williton.

Spokesman for the council Stacey Beaumont said: "Naturally the report's findings are disappointing but the council has already acknowledged that it has not met its housing targets and so, over the last year, has reworked its approach to affordable housing."

She said flats had become available at Shutgate Meadow and 12 more affordable homes would become available on a development in Clanville Road next spring.

"The money from these sales will be ploughed back into other affordable housing schemes in the district," she said.

"Our plans for housing are starting to deliver.

"We are also working closely with housing providers like Magna West Somerset, Sovereign Housing Association and others, and already this year we have been able to nominate applicants from the housing register for 11 homes to rent and 14 low cost homes to purchase.

"Using the Audit Commission's recommendations to further strengthen our approach, we can assure local people we have started, and will continue, to deliver a better housing service."