The Audit Commission should take a step back in service inspections and allow more democratic decisions on local priorities, a housing expert has warned.
In a critique of the commission's plans for comprehensive performance assessment, the Housing Quality Network says the task of deciding which council services are most important "is not a job for an unelected body".

Under the new system, the commission will rate both individual services and corporate performance. Inspections, performance indicators, and Government Office ratings, which may not coincide, will be taken into account.

Each service will be given a value from one to four. The commission may average them, or give extra weight to particular services such as housing or education.

The final verdict will have to balance current performance and prospects for improvement.

HQN associate Doug Edmonds said: "No amount of analysis and consultation can disguise the need for such judgements. This is the stuff of politics."

He suggested canvassing councils on their priorities, with the secretary of state taking a final decision if no agreement is reached.

"Somebody should be democratically accountable," Edmonds added.