A COUNCIL has appointed a temporary director to run its troubled housing service.

During the next six months Bernadette Marjoram will work on improvements to Chester-le-Street District Council's service, which in 18 months received two damning reports from Audit Commission inspectors.

The inspectors uncovered a catalogue of problems including a 1,300 per cent increase in rent arrears over six years, income from housing paying for the town's closed-circuit television system, and missing out on £2m of funding because there was no effective housing strategy.

An advisory board was set up at the request of Housing Minister Tony McNulty to give advice to councillors and officers on improvements to the service.

Ms Marjoram has 25 years experience in local government - until September she was at East Heartfordshire Council - and has worked in London boroughs and is chairman of the British Urban Regeneration Association.

At East Herts she oversaw the transfer of the council's housing stock to a housing association following a vote in favour by tenants.

The Government requires all councils to look at options for the future control of their housing.

But Ms Marjoram said stock transfers were much longer-term projects and her task was to improve the service to tenants.

She is awaiting the Government's response to the action plan drawn up following the Audit Commission reports.

She said: "I'm confident there will be changes and improvement but it will take time.

"There are problems, nobody is running away from that, and there are some difficult decisions. But I'm confident that members are clear that they want to improve services for tenants."

The council's new leader, Linda Ebbatson, said: "I am confident Bernadette will bring about the improvements of services both the council and the community are expecting.''