Union leaders will be meeting bin bosses to discuss the ongoing dispute over rubbish collections in an attempt to stave off strike action.

Mark Turner, branch secretary of GMB Sussex, confirmed the union will be meeting Geoff Raw, executive director for environment, development and housing, at Brighton and Hove City Council today.

He said if an agreement on how to deal with the issue is not reached then the union will be balloting for strike action.

They will be discussing the dispute between workers and executives over the current state of the rounds – which residents say are inconsistent and infrequent.

The GMB argues the changes made to the service in October have left refuse workers underequipped to deal with the demands made by the new rounds.

It also says the current vehicles do not meet demands due to frequent breakdowns and that there is a lack of discussion between management and the workforce.

The GMB threatened action last Wednesday evening through its Sussex branch twitter account.

Refuse workers last went on strike in 2013 and the week’s industrial action led to mounting piles of rubbish on the street.