Today is D-day for the battered refuse collection and street-sweeping service in Brighton and Hove.

D stands for dirt, dustbins and the delivery of the service by, for the first time in years, the city council rather than private operators.

The history of private firms has not been a happy one in the city. Three operators have been defeated by its problems.

Now new chief executive David Panter has taken charge of the service himself. He has moved in the best team he could find.

Mr Panter has also tried to ensure there are good relations with the workforce and, crucially, with the GMB Union to which many of them belong.

Bad management has been a big cause of the failure of the previous contracts. But there is a widespread feeling that, for many reasons, the men have not been able to play a full part either.

Their co-operation is essential if the council is to succeed where experienced operators have failed.

It is a difficult, dirty and sometimes disgusting job collecting rubbish in the city.

But other cities, including Glasgow and Birmingham, manage to empty bins and keep streets clean with less fuss and expense than Brighton and Hove.

This proves it is possible, given the co-operation and goodwill that has been lacking in Brighton and Hove for far too long.