Birmingham City Council has issued a stern warning to anyone who refuses to pay council tax during the bin strike. Frustrated householders asked on social media what would happen if they stopped making the payments – up ten per cent this year with the same rise looming in April – as their rubbish piled up.
In response, the council reminded people of their ‘legal’ obligation and said the industrial action was being taken by the Unite union and was outside the authority’s control. The warning came as Unite members prepared to stage another walkout tomorrow, Tuesday, January 14, as talks last week to resolve the dispute failed to break the deadlock.
Last week, it was announced that some of the city’s tips would be increasing opening hours to cope with the backlog.
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On a Q&A document on the council’s website was a question: “If you don’t collect my bins, can I withhold my council tax?” The council answered: “It is a legal responsibility to pay council tax and we urge people to continue doing this.
“The current situation is the result of industrial action taken by Unite the Union, not due to the council’s actions. Council tax is collected to fund council services generally.”
Birmingham taxpayers face a second week of bin strikes this week.
(Image: Birmingham Live)
A warning was also issued to anyone thinking of taking their uncollected rubbish to the Council House in Victoria Square. The website said: “If I bring my rubbish to the Council House, will it be removed more quickly?
The answer came: “No, this would be an act of fly-tipping. We have a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping and do not hesitate to prosecute offenders where evidence exists.”
Further strike dates are planned for
- Wednesday 22 January 2025
- Thursday 30 January 2025
- Friday 7 February 2025
- Monday 10 February 2025
- Tuesday 18 February 2025
- Wednesday 26 February 2025
- Thursday 6 March 2025
- Friday 14 March 2025
- Monday 17 March 2025
- Tuesday 25 March 2025
- Wednesday 2 April 2025