Rubbish collector Sita is still failing to reach its contract promises well into the second year of the agreement.

The French-owned firm is responsible for emptying dustbins and street tidying in Brighton and Hove.

Latest figures before city councillors show complaints about missed bins have only fallen below the target figure of 150 a week once in the last six months.

At times the number of complaints has exceeded 400, although the company's performance has been improving, particularly in the first part of this year.

Sita has not met its target of having cleaned 90 per cent of streets to a satisfactory standard since October.

Council head of contract services Gary Urwin said: "There is clear evidence that standards required in the contract are not being met.

"Sita have committed themselves to providing a recovery plan to the council which should be available in the next few weeks."

The council is deducting damages from Sita because the firm is under-performing. The council is also withholding payments where work is not being carried out.

Sita bosses declined to comment until after they have met councillors on Thursday.