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A Freedom of Information request has been submitted aimed at getting to the bottom of the recent drop in the number of people on the social housing waiting list in York.
The number on the list fell from over 4600 families at the beginning of September, to only 2200 in October. No new social housing developments were completed for occupation during that period.
It turned out that a behind closed doors decision had been taken to kick more than half of the applicants off the list.
We now understand that most of these were deemed to be people who did not have a real housing need and who had not applied for any of the homes advertised during the previous 12 months.
Of the others, 140 were already homeowners and 187 had no local connection while 13 had no local connection and were also homeowners
57 applicants had their application banding changed from Gold to Silver.
The Council has to respond within 28 days to the FOI request.
The request seeks details of how the decision was taken, when and by whom.
It asks the Council what consultation was undertaken.
It seeks more information about the categories of people who have been thrown off the register.
