INSPECTORS have slated a council's housing repairs and maintenance service in a damning report published today.

Wear Valley District Council came under fire from the Audit Commission, which says the authority is unlikely to improve on its poor score of no stars.

In homes classed as "ready to let", the commission's team photographed syringes, graffiti and filthy bathrooms and said they were "appalled" at the condition of the properties.

They found 50 homes where gas appliances had not been checked within the previous 12 months.

There was also general neglect of some council estates, said the inspectors, who visited in August soon after the arrival of the council's new housing director, Michael Laing, and chief executive Iain Phillips.

Their report highlighted:

l Inefficient and ineffective working practices.

l Wasted resources, despite tight budgets.

l Neglect of tenants' needs and welfare, and poor consultation.

l Inadequate systems to measure and monitor performance or address areas of concern.

l A repairs system which was "too bureaucratic", with more focus on internal processes than achieving outcomes for customers.

Roy Urwin, the commission's chief inspector of housing, said: "Although the new chief executive and director of housing services have a strong commitment to Best Value and the requirement for change within the service, they alone cannot be expected to deliver the wide-ranging improvements we consider to be necessary.

"The council faces a huge task, which will involve culture change and the involvement of members and officers at all levels."

Council leader Councillor Olive Brown said: "We take the findings seriously. We have already started to improve our housing service.

"We will work closely with the inspectors and, most importantly, our customers, to do things better.

New housing chairman Councillor Belle Bousfield said: "I visit many of our estates every week. I can already see that things are getting better. I am determined to make Wear Valley's housing service one of the best in the country."

Edith Stobbs, who chairs a customer panel representing tenants and residents, said: "In the last few months we have been involved more. The council is trying hard. We want to see big improvements and will work with the council on these."

Copies of the report are available from the council, or on the Best Value website www.bestvalueinspect-ions.gov.uk