Following revelations that the Labour Administration had full knowledge of the significant public health risks from the ongoing bin strikes, Birmingham Local Conservatives have today demanded urgent measures to tackle the city's escalating rat crisis.
Despite the Labour administration having received a detailed risk assessment warning of the potential serious health impacts due to the bin strikes - information they concealed when blocking a Conservative motion to declare a Public Health Emergency at the last council meeting, - residents continue to face dangerous conditions.
Labour’s refusal to hold a promised inquiry into the City’s bankruptcy and the resulting bin strikes further demonstrates their disregard for residents' knowing the truth. These strikes originated from Labour's mishandling of the Council's equal pay obligations, plunging Birmingham into a financial and public health catastrophe.
Cllr Robert Alden (Con, Erdington), Leader of the Opposition & Birmingham Local Conservatives, said:
While the 26,000 tonnes of rubbish that was uncollected on the streets of the city are starting to be cleared, pest control experts have been clear the risk is rats are displaced into peoples homes. That is why the Council needs to have a plan to tackle the growth of rats in the city to protect residents from the risk of the diseases those rats carry. The Labour Administration has failed to lead, so we have stepped up and published a plan to stop the rats and protect residents.
Cllr Ewan Mackey (Con, Sutton Roughley), Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Birmingham Local Conservatives, added:
Labour's credibility gap widens each day. While those bin crews still working struggle to remove 26,000 tonnes of rubbish off the streets, rats are left to venture indoors in search of food, exacerbating the health risks. Labour must urgently adopt our plan in full to control the rat infestation and prevent the spread of disease.
Cllr Timothy Huxtable (Con, Hall Green South), Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment & Transport, stated:
Our proactive strategy includes baiting public spaces, parks, and sewers, issuing vital public health guidance, and scrapping the 'Rat Tax' permanently to encourage reporting of rat sightings. Keeping rubbish collection weekly and frequently emptying street bins is essential. Labour's piecemeal adoption of our solutions is the only effective thing the administration has done so far; now they must implement the full plan without delay.
The Conservative Group’s comprehensive plan includes:
- Proactive baiting, with enclosed bait stations, in affected public areas and parks.
- Work with Severn Trent to bait the sewers to eradicate underground infestations.
- Promptly distribute public health advice based on Labour’s undisclosed risk assessment, as recommended but not yet issued.
- Permanent removal of the Rat Tax to ensure all residents can access help.
- Launch a public awareness campaign to encourage residents to request free rat baiting, report sightings, and ensure effective control measures.
- Maintaining weekly rubbish collections and regular street bin emptying to prevent rubbish building up.
Cllr Alden concluded:
Labour has consistently put party before residents' health and well-being. Their lack of transparency and action is indefensible. It’s time to stop the excuses and adopt our practical plan to restore public health, clean up our city and clear out the rats.