UNION chiefs and council officers are just “centimetres apart” on an agreement to halt further bin strikes.

Rubbish collections have been stalled in Brighton and Hove in an ongoing union dispute while bin lorry drivers call on the council to recognise their professional qualifications and give them a pay rise.

Union leaders and Brighton and Hove City Council officers met on Tuesday and a fresh proposal was due to be offered last night, GMB has said.

Mark Turner, GMB secretary, said: “We are waiting to hear their proposal. We are centimetres apart.

“We haven’t set another date for industrial action yet but we will wait to discuss our options with members on Friday and will make another announcement.”

Full-time carer Stuart Taylor contacted The Argus claiming bins in Down Terrace have not been collected for a month.

Despite “five or six calls” to Brighton and Hove City Council, and “promises of collections”, he said he still has mounds of waste piling up outside his door.

The 44-year-old said: “I’ve been told so many times the rubbish would be collected and it hasn’t happened.

“I’ve told the council if they don’t collect it I’ll dump it outside their offices, and they told me I would be charged with fly tipping.

“I sympathise with the bin men – they do a great job and should be recognised. But the council should resolve the problems so everything can go back to normal. It’s affecting everyone.”

A city council spokeswoman said the bins were due to be collected on Tuesday.

Last night Mr Taylor said they still had not been dealt with.

The council spokeswoman said: “The bins in Down Terrace were missed as part of the industrial action. All crews were out on their scheduled rounds on Tuesday.

“In addition, a refuse crew was due to collect from Bexhill Road before moving to Knoll Estate and an extra recycling crew was due to collect from the Robertson Road and Tivoli Crescent areas.”