A new troubleshooting committee has been set up to try to solve Brighton and Hove's waste crisis.

The committee of three councillors has responsibility for making speedy decisions about a contract for waste management in conjunction with East Sussex County Council.

Leading Brighton and Hove councillors fear the two councils could lose £49 million allocated to the project by the Government unless action is taken quickly. Council leader Lynette Gwyn-Jones and environment cabinet councillor John Ballance have been appointed to the team.

The third place will be taken by a leading member of the Tory opposition, yet to be named.

John Sheldon, deputy Tory leader in Brighton and Hove, welcomed the new committee and hoped it would help break the deadlock.

He said: "We have got to get on and deal with this problem. We are running out of space for our rubbish and this is the way forward to reach decisions quickly."

The joint plans have been on hold since December, when county councillors voted out proposals for an incinerator at Newhaven. They said Brighton and Hove should burn its own rubbish. It is hoped the new committee will help get discussions back on track.