Affordable housing remains a problems in north Norfolk according to a report from the Audit Commission.Speaking to the district council's cabinet last week, Gill Bannister, from the commission, outlined a largely positive assessment of the authority, praising its record for recycling, cleanliness and safety in the community.

Affordable housing remains a problems in north Norfolk according to a report from the Audit Commission.

Speaking to the district council's cabinet last week, Gill Bannister, from the commission, outlined a largely positive assessment of the authority, praising its record for recycling, cleanliness and safety in the community.

But the inspector said the provision of affordable housing was proving a challenge for the council with building work taking too long to complete and private landlords not receiving enough encouragement to get their homes back into use once they become vacant.

Ms Bannister said: 'The implication for local people is that getting affordable housing is not getting easier for them.'

Clive Stockton, portfolio holder for planning policy, acknowledged that the council did need to address the problem of affordable housing.

But he added that since 2007/08 - the year on which the commission based its assessment - changes had already been made, including the introduction of a new empty homes strategy, which he hoped would improve the situation.

Sickness was also highlighted as a problem, with an average of 11.63 days per full-time member of staff taken off sick during the year 2007/08.

Ms Bannister said it was one of the worst records in the country but recognised the authority was working to address it.

The council said it had already brought in new measures to improve the numbers - including introducing back-to-work interviews - and had already seen a 10pc drop in the number of sick days taken by staff in 2008/09.