HOUSING benefits firm Liberata's top boss has been hauled before council chiefs to explain massive delays in the service.

Almost 12 months after taking over from Capita, which left behind a trail of unprocessed claims, the financial services company admits it has failed to turn the situation around.

Bromley Council leader Councillor Michael Tickner grilled managing director Bill Green last week, after reading a report which shows the number of outstanding pieces of work has spiralled to 7,000.

Liberata was left with a backlog of 9,200 documents to sort when it took over last April but it had brought these down to 2,500 by September before falling behind again.

The worst hit area is new claims, with more than 2,600 cases now outstanding, according to figures published up until February 24.

Local advocacy groups have been swamped by complaints about housing benefit issues in recent months.

Mr Green said: "We didn't understand the depth of the problem when we took over.

"We accept responsibility and understand what we need to do. I apologise to people suffering in the meantime."

He added Liberata has sacked some staff who were "weak links", including one manager.

Of the 11 local authorities for which Liberata runs housing benefit departments, Bromley is the only one it has failed to improve.

Liberata's director in Bromley David Crichton-Miller told News Shopper: "I can't pretend the service is fine. We are not sufficiently quick to respond to new claims but we are trying.

"We have put in place people and resources to clear this backlog.

"We have a good track record in other boroughs and we can do it in Bromley."

Councillor Tickner said: "It is good Liberata is not in denial over this. I believe it now has a clear strategy to improve the situation."

Mr Green will meet councillors again in three months, when he hopes to be able to show improvements.