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Waste Disposal: Birmingham

Asked by Kevin HollinrakeConservativeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 5 June 2025UIN 54876

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Unite trade union press release entitled Birmingham Bin Strike Escalates, published on of 21 May 2025, what role the Best Value Commissioners in Birmingham City Council have in the ACAS negotiations between Birmingham City Council and the Unite trade union on the bin collection industrial action.

Answered by Jim McMahon

Local Authorities are independent employers responsible for agreeing pay and terms for their workforce, and so the ACAS negotiations relating to Birmingham's waste service are rightly being held between the Council and the Unite trade union. Commissioners do not have a direct role in these negotiations; their role is to support the council in line with Directions from the Secretary of State, and ensure the Council is meeting its Best Value duty.

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