A CHANGE in the way council homes are allocated in York has moved a step closer. Council leader David Carr has given housing officers full authority to begin to negotiate new proposals.

The authority wants to end the system whereby people on the housing list bid for a home they want. Instead, it wants officers to allocate homes to those most in need, based on their requirements.

Because there is an acute shortage of two-bed council homes in York, the authority also wants to relax its rules so as to allow families to move into larger, three-bed homes.

The changes may require York to pull out of North Yorkshire’s home choice scheme - meaning people on the York housing list would no longer be able to bi’ for council homes elsewhere in the county. But the council could make arrangements with smaller local authorities in the region instead.

The proposed changes are significant. Ending the bidding process would reduce people’s choice over where they live. It may make the process of allocating council homes quicker and more effective - and it would help council officials ensure families didn’t hang on in inappropriate accommodation while they waited for their “perfect” home. But there will be many who might resent the loss of choice.

Relaxing the rules to allow families to move into larger homes when smaller ones are not available would make a great deal of sense, however.

Cllr Carr has made clear he will not approve any plans until he has heard from officers.

But we would expect much more scrutiny than that. A proper report should be produced, and ideally, any such major changes should be approved by full council, not just the council leader.