'Local people will get priority on housing' (From Gazette & Herald)

'Local people will get priority on housing'

HOUSING bosses have made reassurances that local people will get higher priority for social housing in Ryedale.

Brian Clarke, from Ryedale Housing Association (RHA), told members of Ryedale District Council's overview and scrutiny committee that new "local points" would soon be introduced to the system which assesses prospective tenants.

But Councillor Howard Keal said: "I remain somewhat alarmed that it seems someone who has a history of anti-social behaviour could leapfrog local people in terms of priority housing because they are seen to be in greater need."

Roy Wallinton, from RHA's parent organisation, Yorkshire Housing, replied that anti-social behaviour was a "terrible modern phenomenon", which the organisation took very seriously. He said elsewhere in Yorkshire it had resorted to vetting tenants. However, he added: "If we accept that a family or individual is homeless it is very difficult for us to then turn that person away, even if they have a history of anti-social behaviour. We may not want to accept them but the law requires us to."

He said the best "model" for housing those people was to provide them with support and guidance in dealing with the responsibilities of a tenancy and being part of a community.

Councillor John Clark said social housing should be provided to those who most needed help from society. He added: "Anti-social behaviour is by people in Ryedale who think they can buy a second home. To them it's a toy, it's a luxury, driving the house prices up and causing anti-social behaviour beyond belief... we've got to stop this greed and abuse."

Mr Wallington said there was a need for more housing in Ryedale. There is currently a waiting list of 1,500 in the district. "At the moment, demand far outweighs supply," he said.

He urged councillors to encourage an increase in supply of social housing through planning regulations, by demanding that a certain percentage of new residential developments are affordable.

The new 'local points' apply to people moving to the area to work here. Mr Wallington added: "We are as concerned as you are that the houses are there for the people who need them for work."

Updated: 10:55 Wednesday, February 23, 2005