MORE than 330 York households were saved from homelessness last year and more than 30 got onto the property ladder thanks to City of York Council schemes.

The council's director of housing and adult social services, Bill Hodson, says the authority is also making progress in turning around and re-letting empty homes, and council homes are being repaired more quickly.

In a report reviewing his department's work over the last year, Mr Hodson says the average time taken to let empty homes is now less than 20 days, compared with 24 days in 2006-7.

As a result, the level of satisfaction among City of York Council tenants has risen from 80 per cent to 89 per cent, a result Mr Hodson describes as a marked improvement "on a par with the highest levels achieved in the past".

The report says 31 local households were helped to get a foot on the property ladder through the council's involvement with "Homebuy" schemes run jointly with local housing associations.

Mr Hodson's report adds that major steps were taken towards providing more affordable housing in York after the council agreed to the redevelopment of its Discus bungalows and the development of 19 eco-homes on Fifth Avenue and Victoria Way.

The number of delayed discharges from hospital - sometimes called bed-blocking - has fallen and often been at zero, while alternative personalised care plans for service users who previously went to the Huntington Road and Yearsley Bridge day centres were put in place by the end of May.

More of those who received adult social services have begun to use individual budgets, giving them greater control over their own care arrangements.

The report also reveals sickness absence among staff working in council's housing and adult social services directorate has been reduced by 30 per cent, from 18.6 days to 12.5.

The findings of Mr Hodson's report will be aired at a meeting of City of York Council's Executive Member for Housing and Adult Social Services and Advisory Panel on June 2.