The £1,200-a-day Tory-appointed council boss of Britain’s second city where residents face bin strike misery has a pad over 100 miles away – free from the rubbish chaos.

Almost 400 council waste workers in Birmingham are striking indefinitely in a dispute about pay and jobs. But we can reveal how Max Caller, brought in to lead the effectively bankrupt city council, escapes the impact of mounting rubbish as he has a home in London.

And we have found how Birmingham City Council’s lead commissioner has cost the taxpayer more than £9,000 in hotel stays in just a year. Mr Caller, dubbed “Max the Axe” over his cost-cutting record, was appointed by then Conservative minister in October 2023.

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It came after the month before the Labour-run local authority issued a section 114 notice – acknowledging its income could not cover its spending. Birmingham’s bin staff went on an indefinite walk-out on Tuesday, following on-and-off strikes since the start of the year. Mr Caller has a house on a tree-lined street in Barnet, north London, where homes have sold for in excess of £1million in recent years.

Analysis of public records show he has claimed £9,302 in hotel stays in his lead commissioner role from October 2023 to September 2024. During that time he has pocketed £186,360 in fees and spent £3,035.07 in travel. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “These figures are absolutely staggering and more astonishing given that Birmingham council is officially bankrupt. They are in stark contrast to our frontline refuse collection workers, many of [whom] are paid just above the minimum wage, for a very difficult and challenging role, undertaken in all weathers.

“Max Caller is the power behind the throne and pulling the strings in Birmingham. He along with the council’s management and leadership are responsible for the ongoing rubbish dispute. The commissioners and the council have had months to resolve this dispute but have singularly failed to do so. Birmingham residents need to be asking why they are having to pay through the nose for this mess. They deserve better than this.”

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “We have made a fair and reasonable offer to Unite and we would urge them to come back to the table so this can be resolved. Residents of Birmingham want and deserve a better waste collection service and the restructure that Unite is opposing is part of the much-needed transformation of the service.”

The spokesperson added: “We appreciate residents’ frustration and thank them for their patience. We are asking that they put their household waste out as usual and we will collect it when we can. The oversight and direction of Commissioners has been integral to the improvements seen at Birmingham City Council. They are as keen as the Council to find a solution to the dispute and would ask Unite to come back to the table for constructive discussions with BCC.”