The council has established a task force to tackle the crisis

It is facing an expected �2m deficit by the end of the financial year, the council's audit committee was told.

The council's 7,500 tenants have been told that only urgent or emergency repairs will be carried out.

It is understood that "multiple" computer problems lasting nearly nine months added to difficulties for staff.

Last month, the council's housing director, Steve Partner, was suspended on full pay in what was described as a "neutral act" as an investigation was launched into the overspend.

The chief executive Philip McGreevy is leading a task group to tackle the crisis.

Tenants have already been warned by letter about the potential impact on services.

Bugs

Further details have emerged about the causes of the overspend. A key issue is understood to be the failure of a new computer system used by the housing department.

Council officials have admitted they faced "multiple problems" following the introduction of a new computer system in the housing department called IBS.

It took nearly nine months for officers to access accurate data and carry out routine tasks following the switch-over to the new software.

Bugs have continued to affect the system.

Lee Childs of external auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers has told the council that they will prepare a public interest report into the crisis. The report is expected to be published in the spring.

The related issues were discussed by Flintshire council's audit and housing committees on Wednesday.

The report to the audit committee said the Wales Audit Office has been concerned for some time at the "management, procedures and systems in operation" within the council's community and housing directorate.

It also warns that the problems "raise wider issues concerning the corporate management arrangements for monitoring, responding to and resolving these issues".