LABOUR councillors are urging the council to "get round the table" to resolve the ongoing bin dispute.

The opposition co-leader of Brighton and Hove City Council John Allcock, and the Labour group's environment spokesperson Gary Wilkinson met with representatives of the GMB union and say that the union is now offering council leaders to meet tomorrow morning to seek a resolution.

The party claims its "crucial intervention" could help end industrial action, which began today and is set to continue for a fortnight.

Cllr Allcock said: "I am pleased our interventions today have paved the way for constructive talks and hopefully an end to strike action.

"I urge the leader of the council and the chief executive to meet with the GMB, get round the table and communicate to find a way forward that benefits our residents.

"Burying heads in the sand helps nobody. We need the council to tackle this crisis directly and the next step in doing that involves attending the meeting with GMB that we have facilitated."

Labour also slammed the Green administration's approach to the dispute, adding the last Labour administration avoided industrial action by working hard to find solutions and keeping lines of communication open.

"When Labour left office, there was a clear path to a long-term solution, and we are disappointed that this plan seems to have been abandoned," a statement from the party read.

The news comes hours after GMB branch secretary Mark Turner said they have received no proposals from the council to resolve the dispute, despite the council claiming to have submitted a resolution agreement for the union's consideration.

He added that the union remains fully prepared to go ahead with the full two weeks of strike action as planned.

Brighton and Hove City Council have been approached for comment.

Have you got a story for us? Email news@theargus.co.uk or contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

Sign up to our newsletter to get updates sent straight to your inbox.

You can also call us on 01273 021 400.