Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministerial Statement

Birmingham City Council 2025-03-31

31 March 2025 · 15 other contributors

Opened by The Minister for Local Government and English Devolution Jim McMahon

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Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

The Minister for Local Government and English Devolution raised concerns about birmingham city council 2025-03-31 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Minister updates House on statutory intervention at Birmingham city council
  • Government aims for well-functioning councils providing essential services
  • Commissioners have supported Birmingham's recovery for 18 months

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Government Statement

The Minister for Local Government and English Devolution

Today I am updating the House on the statutory intervention at Birmingham city council and the ongoing issues affecting its waste service. The government pledged to fix local governance foundations, aiming for well-functioning councils providing essential services. Commissioners have been supporting Birmingham's recovery for 18 months. Despite progress in addressing equal pay issues and governance improvements, challenges remain due to substantial risks on governance, financial management, and service delivery. The industrial action involving waste services causes significant disruption; the government supports the council by increasing core spending power up to 9.8%, or £131 million, including a one-off recovery grant of £39.3 million. The situation has escalated into a major incident due to public health risks for vulnerable residents. While ministers cannot legally intervene in industrial action, they will support local leaders and have put in place an exceptional financial support agreement worth £1.24 billion. We encourage all parties to resolve the dispute sustainably without future liabilities. Practices in waste services led to a large equal pay crisis costing over £1 billion; reforms are necessary for sustainable service delivery. The government remains committed to partnership with Birmingham, supporting economic growth and regeneration opportunities.

Other contributors (15)
  • Kevin Hollinrake Con Thirsk and Malton

    Question

    The shadow secretary criticises the government for failing to take action in resolving the waste service dispute affecting Birmingham residents. He questions the minister's influence over Unite, a union complicitly holding the city hostage.

    Minister reply

    The Minister emphasised that while ministers cannot legally intervene in industrial actions, they support local leaders and have put in place exceptional financial support agreements. The government encourages all parties to resolve the dispute sustainably without creating future liabilities.

  • Kevin Hollinrake Con Thirsk and Malton

    Question

    The Minister is incorrect to say that Birmingham city council has not requested national support. Does he accept that this crisis has been ongoing for 20 days, and when will he meet local leaders?

    Minister reply

    Regular conversations have taken place with the council leader, including a meeting two weeks ago and another planned for this week. We are committed to providing necessary support to help the council achieve its goals.

  • Jim McMahon Lab Newton

    Question

    Will the Government confirm that they will provide support for Birmingham city council to ensure waste collection resumes safely?

    Minister reply

    We stand ready to work with the council and provide any necessary support to address public health concerns. We have already provided funding through the recovery grant, ensuring local taxpayers are not burdened excessively.

  • Paulette Hamilton Lab Birmingham Erdington

    Question

    What discussions has the Government had with Birmingham city council about the impact of uncollected bins on public health and the environment?

    Minister reply

    The dispute's prolonged nature means that it now poses significant public health risks, which is why a major incident has been declared. We are working closely with local authorities to ensure safe waste disposal and recycling.

  • Vikki Slade LD Mid Dorset and North Poole

    Question

    What learning will the Government take from the Birmingham situation, especially regarding equal pay disputes?

    Minister reply

    We acknowledge the interrelationship between waste collection issues and the broader context of equal pay liabilities. The cost to address these is £1 billion for Birmingham, and it's essential that negotiations avoid exacerbating existing problems.

  • Preet Kaur Gill Lab/Co-op Birmingham Edgbaston

    Question

    Does the Minister agree that Unite pickets blocking depots are unacceptable, given the public health situation?

    Minister reply

    My hon. Friend is correct. The vast majority of workers have agreed to new terms or voluntary redundancy, leaving a small number holding up service delivery. I encourage all parties involved to focus on resolving issues constructively.

  • Andrew Mitchell Con Sutton Coldfield

    Question

    Does the Minister think that a judge-led inquiry is necessary into the causes of Birmingham's financial and operational crises?

    Minister reply

    The city has faced significant challenges, but progress has been made. We must avoid actions that could undermine successful negotiations on equal pay.

  • Laurence Turner Lab Birmingham Northfield

    Question

    My residents and constituents deserve better than the current scenes in Birmingham. Bins are not being collected, and the council is losing future revenue because commercial contracts are being cancelled. When the strike ends—what assurance can the Minister give my residents that refuse and health services in Birmingham will be decent and fit for purpose?

    Minister reply

    The recovery grant was our contribution to managing the impact on council tax payers at a local level, a way that the previous Government did not seem to care too much about. The question is how we move on from this point: clearing up the mess left on the streets and restoring waste collection services that deliver for people.

  • Wendy Morton Con Aldridge-Brownhills

    Question

    When the Minister describes this as a local matter, it is clear to me that his Government are washing their hands of the problem. That is not good enough. What we want is for the Minister to get this problem sorted out and get those bins emptied.

    Minister reply

    I said that this is a partnership; Birmingham city council has to negotiate with trade unions as the employer, but they stand ready to support local government to achieve resolution of services.

  • Gurinder Singh Josan Lab Smethwick

    Question

    Over 14 years, Birmingham city council lost £736 million of funding under the previous Conservative Government. Does he agree that this is a big recipe for the situation we are in now? Does he agree that both sides need to put public rhetoric to one side and sort this dispute out?

    Minister reply

    The trade unions and local authority worked in partnership to agree on equal pay progress; all parties care about the people of Birmingham, the workforce, and the long-term viability of the local authority.

  • Gavin Williamson Con Stone

    Question

    Residents want clear action. Can he make it clear that if talks are not agreed upon, there is no return to work and bins are not emptied, he will intervene and ensure bin collection?

    Minister reply

    The difference in tone between resolving the strike and breaking it; they stand ready to support the council and workforce who want the situation resolved.

  • Bradley Thomas Con Bromsgrove

    Question

    Chelworth Road highlights the contrast: one half with rubbish collected by a Conservative-led council, another side overwhelmed by Labour's waste collection issues. When will he intervene to get those bins collected?

    Minister reply

    The hon. Gentleman sets up good and bad councils via party politics but that has been exhausted. The Government stand ready to work with all political parties' councils in the interests of local people.

  • Julian Lewis Con New Forest East

    Question

    He cannot blame him for not remembering the winter of discontent, which happened before he was born. Is this Government prepared to face a similar situation?

    Minister reply

    The right hon. Gentleman should keep his advice to himself given Conservative MPs' attempts to shirk responsibility for measures they introduced over 14 years.

  • Lee Anderson Reform Ashfield

    Question

    We have Birmingham Labour MPs campaigning for a new airport in Pakistan; meanwhile, rats feast on rubbish due to the strike. When will this rubbish be cleared?

    Minister reply

    Both share the ambition that it will be cleared as soon as possible. The council must resolve with trade unions by agreement.

Shadow Comment

Kevin Hollinrake

The shadow secretary criticises the government's inaction on the waste dispute affecting Birmingham residents for over 20 days. He highlights the public health emergency caused by overflowing bins, rats, and fly-tipping due to ongoing industrial action with Unite since 2017. The Labour Mayor of West Midlands has expressed frustration about the situation. Shadow calls for a Cobra-led response, cutting councillor allowances of cabinet members responsible for the mess, and appointing private sector binmen to clear up. He questions whether the Deputy Prime Minister's influence over unions could help resolve the issue.

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