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Birmingham City Council disputes Unite's figures and say reopening the waste roles would leave the local authority open to an equal pay liability.

However, the local authority rejects that and says under its pay restructuring plan a total of only 17 workers would face up to a £6,000 loss per year.

In England, some local authorities have a legal duty to support the homeless, including providing temporary accommodation.

It has also set aside £90,000 to support care leavers, offering help with living costs to young people who have recently left foster care or local authority care.

Ian may be stretching his point a little - local authorities provide a range of services such as street lighting, parks and care services.