That this House regrets the formal breakdown of negotiations to end the ongoing bin strikes in Birmingham; further regrets the continued hardship placed on residents of Birmingham by missed collections, widespread fly-tipping and threats to the environment and public health; expresses profound concern over recent findings that the Government-appointed commissioners have executive powers to reject settlement offers verbally agreed upon by Unite and Birmingham City Council officials, contradicting previous Government statements on its role in the dispute; calls on the Government to clarify the extent of its involvement in Birmingham City Council’s decision-making processes throughout the failed negotiations; urges the Government to leverage the role that it is actively undertaking to secure a fair settlement for essential frontline workers, discourage unfair fire-and-rehire practices and ensure that Birmingham City Council’s waste management service is restored to its full capacity; and calls on the Government to amend the remit of the commissioners to restore Birmingham City Council’s ability to settle the dispute, or to recall them with immediate effect.
