Of waste service’ in new review

“Our selected consultant is strong in all areas and I look forward to receiving their findings for our consideration.”

Council leader Cllr Ian Ward (Lab, Shard End) previously confirmed the cost of the independent review would be up to £300,000 and said: “It is a large sum of money but in the context of a review of this nature it is not unusual that that sort of money is being spent.”

He said an independent review was a commitment made as part of the agreement with Unite to end the “secret payments” dispute earlier this year, while external auditors recommended it in their latest formal warning to the council.

A council spokesman said the sum involved could not be confirmed due to commercial confidentiality but was “significantly below the initial estimates of £200,000 to 300,000”.

A bid by former bins chief Cllr Majid Mahmood to cancel the review was thwarted last month. He claimed the review would ultimately lead to the privatisation of the service and was too costly.

The review is one of several steps being taken by the council to tackle the bins issues still posing problems across the city, amid frequent reports of fly-tipping and missed collections.

Darren Share has just been appointed as assistant director with responsibility for street scene – including rubbish collections and recycling – on a salary of more than £100,000.

The council’s cabinet has also committed to upgrading its bin lorry fleet over the next three years.