INDEPENDENT watchdog, the Audit Commission, has assessed the housing services provided by West Devon Borough Council as ?good? with ?promising prospects for improvement?, in a report out today (Thursday). The Audit Commission inspection team gave the service two stars on a scale of zero to three stars. The report highlights how the council has successfully reduced homelessness in the borough, including the demand for more homes and is bringing empty homes back into use. The council, it says, has good plans for delivering new affordable homes based on a broad understanding of housing need. Cllr Mrs Margaret Garton, chairman of the council?s future planning and housing committee, said she was delighted by the independent assessment. ?We are very pleased that the commitment of both the councillors and staff has been recognised by the Audit Commission. ?Housing is a key priority of the council and the success of the service is a reflection of the resources, both staff and financial, in which the council has invested.? The inspection covered a broad range of services which contribute to the delivery of affordable housing. These include planning, private sector housing, homelessness and strategy and enabling. The borough is rated as a good council, following the Audit Commission?s Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA). CPA measures how well councils are delivering services for local people and communities, while reducing the overall regulatory burden on them.
