We, the undersigned residents of Birmingham, call upon the Prime Minister to urgently intervene in the ongoing and unresolved bin dispute in Birmingham, which has now persisted for over a year.

This prolonged dispute has had devastating consequences for our city. Birmingham has been criticised both nationally and internationally for severe environmental degradation. Large volumes of uncollected waste have led to infestations of rats, persistent foul odours, and conditions that constitute a serious public health risk. These conditions are particularly harmful to children, vulnerable residents, and families across the city.

The situation is unacceptable for the United Kingdom’s second-largest city and reflects a failure to deliver the most basic public services.

Concerns Regarding Governance and Oversight

We are deeply concerned that this crisis has continued despite Birmingham City Council being under government intervention following the issuing of a Section 114 notice. Six government-appointed commissioners have been in place during this period, yet the bin dispute remains unresolved.

During the commissioners’ oversight:

A Chief Executive has been appointed on an annual salary of £295,000, yet the dispute has not been resolved.
The bin strike has reportedly cost the public £14.6 million, representing a significant financial burden on residents.
Community groups and individuals have offered to assist with mediation.
Unite the Union has publicly stated that it is willing to negotiate.
Despite these facts, there appears to be ongoing reluctance on the part of Birmingham City Council to meaningfully re-engage in negotiations.

Call for Prime Ministerial Action

This situation can no longer be allowed to continue. Clean, safe cities are fundamental to public health, dignity, and quality of life. As a parent himself, we believe the Prime Minister will appreciate the importance of ensuring that families are not forced to live amid waste, vermin, and health hazards.

We therefore call upon the Prime Minister to take the following actions:

Remove the current government-appointed commissioners, who have no direct connection to Birmingham and lack the necessary local understanding of the city’s unique social, economic, and operational challenges.
Appoint new commissioners with strong local knowledge of Birmingham, including experience of the city’s communities, workforce, and industrial relations landscape.
Intervene directly to require the immediate resumption of negotiations between Birmingham City Council and Unite the Union, with the clear objective of bringing the bin dispute to a swift and lasting resolution.
Conclusion

Birmingham deserves better. The continued failure to resolve this dispute undermines public confidence, damages the city’s reputation, and places residents at unnecessary risk. We urge the Prime Minister to act decisively and restore effective leadership, accountability, and basic service delivery in Birmingham.