The firm responsible for collecting rubbish in Brighton and Hove has agreed to improve its service after crunch talks with council leaders.

Sita has been at the centre of controversy for the past month after reorganising its collection rounds.

Rubbish in many areas has been left to pile up for days on end, prompting hundreds of complaints from residents.

Sita managers were called before councillors yesterday after Brighton and Hove's chief executive Glynn Jones and leader Lynette Gwyn-Jones told the company its service was not acceptable.

The company has now agreed to a series of improvements, including setting up quick response teams to deal with rubbish which has not been picked up.

Coun Gwyn-Jones said: "It was a very positive meeting in which we indicated clearly the level of service we expect from Sita.

"They have agreed to look at setting up a quick response team able to deal with any uncollected rubbish within a short time of receiving a call from a member of the public while the new contract is settling in.

"We recognise that the changes in this contract will take a little time to bed down, but we have made it very clear, both publicly and privately, that we are not willing to see our residents suffer any longer."

The news came as other councillors called on the council to impose further fines on Sita.

Brighton and Hove Council's three-strong Green group said penalty clauses in the contract should be invoked because of the "appalling service".

Calling for Sita to be charged a financial penalty, Green councillor Rik Child said council tax payers were not getting their money's worth.

He said: "I have called on the Labour leadership to use their contractual position to penalise Sita for their appalling service.

"Greens understand the situation is difficult at the moment with a change in the collection rounds and pick-up methods.

"But the continued mess on the streets mocks the increased price the public are paying for this new contract."

Sita took over the council's £6.7 million a year refuse collection and street cleaning contract last November.

The deal costs the council nearly £2 million a year more than it was paying three other contractors for the service before Sita took over.

Councillors plumped for Sita, which put in a higher tender than some of its competitors, because the company promised a more efficient service.

The council said penalty clauses would be invoked but there was no fixed sum in the contract and any financial settlement had to be negotiated with Sita.