WEST Devon Borough Council has lost ground in its housing performance since last year and is now classed as 'below average', according to a new government report.

Last year it was rated as 'average', but the Department of the Environment's annual assessment has downgraded it.

It is also doing less well than its neighbouring authorities, Teignbridge and South Hams, which were rated as average, and less well than the South West as a whole, which is said to have improved.

The Government statement focuses on housing strategy, how well authorities perform on managing their investment programme, delivering housing services and involving tenants.

The Government statement stressed that local authorities performing below the regional average must improve their housing services.

Chief executive David Incoll accepted that the report was justified. 'Because of financial reasons we have not been as active on housing in the current financial year,' he said.

'Members have agreed some actions for next year, but we are not going to be able to invest enough to bring our housing up to the standard required in the time the Government expects.'

The shortage of money was partly due to a smaller population paying council tax than in other authorities and a lack of land suitable for selling to raise money, he said.

'Another factor is the climate. Because of the wetness our properties deteriorate faster than those in other areas and more work is needed to repair them.'

The council was funding a big repair scheme to help the most vulnerable, he added.

John Packer, assistant housing services manager, said he was disappointed by the Environment Department report but described it as 'constructive criticism'.

'They were optimistic that we could return to the higher band next year if we put a number of things right,' he said.

Among the criticisms were the number of empty properties and the lack of an energy efficiency strategy, he said.

The findings of the report will come before the strategic development committee in January. The council gets a new housing services manager from the beginning of the year — Marion Playle, who is moving from West Devon Homes.

The entire public housing stock of West Devon was sold by the council to West Devon Homes in February 1999.