TWO YEARS ago the Audit Commission - an independent "watchdog" - was unhappy about housing services provided by Mid Devon District Council and issued a report calling for major changes to be made.

A follow-up report issued last week described the services as "poor". The Commission said the council appeared not to have made sufficient progress since an inspection in January 2007, following which more than 20 recommendations had been made.

Only one, meeting the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act, was judged to have been achieved. Several others had been partially achieved.

Kieran Colgan, the Audit Commission' lead housing inspector for the South West, said the council recognised the situation "and has shown a new determination to improve."

He added: "We expect the council now to move decisively to deliver on its promises.

Kevin Finan, director of community services for the council said it "recognised that there are aspects of the housing services that do not yet meet our tenants' expectations but we are undertaking a £1 million programme which will radically improve a great number of our services."