THURROCK Council has been ordered to pay a borough family £1,600 to compensate for delays and inadequacies in dealing with a longstanding housing application.

Delays in the process meant a family of four, including a child with spcial medical needs, have been living in unsuitable conditions for several years - with a significant part of the the reason being failures in the council's administrative system.

The local government ombudsman found the council at fault in dealing with the case because of botched bureaucracy, poor decision-making and lost records.

A publicised report into the unnamed family's compliant found the council had caused the family avoidable distress.

The full report and decision by the ombudsman can be found via this link. The report does not say if the family has now obtained suitable accommodation.