A woeful lack of management in Medway Council’s housing department led to overspending on vital repairs to its rented properties.

That was the finding of an internal investigation by Deborah Upton, legal expert and new head of housing,after revelations in our print edition of a £500,000 overspend seven months into a contract with Erinaceous Property Management.

But the audit committee’s investigation showed there was no evidence of fraud or dishonesty.

Many of the managers responsible have left or been moved, and there is now a new senior team.

It is the second time in a fortnight that the council housing department has been damned. Last week the Audit Commission officially ranked its strategic housing policies and management the worst in the country.