'Emptying Birmingham's bins would affect our own services' - Wolverhampton Council leader rules out sending crews to strike-plagued city

Wolverhampton was among the local authorities approached by local government minister Jim McMahon with a view to helping clear the backlog of rubbish in crisis-hit Birmingham, which has been hit by a month-long strike.

Lichfield District Council has agreed to provide workers and vehicles 'at a commercial rate', and Mr McMahon said Telford & Wrekin Council had also stepped in to assist.

But Councillor Stephen Simkins, leader of Wolverhampton Council, said he was not prepared to inconvenience the people of Wolverhampton.

"The council is not in a position to send bin crews to Birmingham as it would have a significant impact on services for Wolverhampton’s residents.

“However, we are in discussions with Birmingham City Council and have proposed other ways we might be able to assist them and are currently waiting to hear back.

“Most importantly, any potential support that we agree will not impact services provided for our residents who always come first.”

Councillor Simkins' comments follow a letter from the leader of the Wolverhampton's opposition Conservative group, Councillor Simon Bennett.

Councillor Bennett claimed that workers at other West Midlands councils had been threatened with strike action of their own if their workers were asked to step in to help.

In a letter to Councillor Simkins, Councillor Bennett asked whether the council had been asked to provide support to Birmingham, and whether it would, under normal circumstances, be willing to offer such support. 

"It has come to my attention that unions representing refuse workers in Black Country councils have threatened industrial action if any support is given to Birmingham, so, I’d appreciate your view on this," he wrote.

Councillor Bennett said he would not support the deployment of Wolverhampton Council binmen in Birmingham, saying that the city's problems were of its own council's making.

Members of the Unite union have been on strike since March 11 over proposed changes to the bin service in Birmingham, which members say will leave some workers £8,000 a year worse off.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and local government minister Jim McMahon visited Birmingham on Thursday to see the extent of the backlog.

In an interview with the Express & Star, Mr McMahon said Birmingham Council had made 'a good offer' and urged the striking workers to return to work.