By Hayley Robinson

An improving authority with promising prospects - that's the findings of the Audit Commission following an inspection of Swale council's strategic housing services.

The findings revealed it provides a fair service - a big improvement on the report the Commission published in October 2008 when the services was rated as being poor - but the council still needs to do more work in a number of areas.

The inspection found housing services are now a clear priority for the council and good information about housing needs and conditions is leading to effective plans.

As a result, housing services are more customer-focused, with an improved range of ways to access them and comprehensive information for service users.

It goes on to say the council is involving a wide range of people in the way it develops the service, and the approach to homelessness is strong, with a reduction in the use of temporary accommodation and more households prevented from becoming homeless.

It is also being innovative in its help for disabled people and there is a range of support services for vulnerable people.

However, the council needs to manage complaints more effectively and learn from them.

The area's rural housing is underdeveloped, and the council should work more with parish councils.

Delivery of affordable homes over the past five years is below target.

Inspectors believe prospects for future improvement are positive because of progress made since the last inspection, with performance that compares well with other local authorities. Leadership has improved, particularly at a senior management level, and the council's approach to value for money is improving.

Cllr Mark Baldock, executive portfolio holder for housing, said: "We are happy that the report affirms our own belief that we are an improving authority.

"We are aiming higher still and welcome this report as it outlines the further improvements that we need to make, but recognises that our prospects for improvement are promising because of the building blocks that we have already put in place.

"We will be acting on these in the coming months as we strive to become a high-performing organisation."