Michael Gove calls for 'money-making' councils on visit to Black Country

The Environment Secretary said by becoming more business-like, councils could raise the funds required to enable them to provide a high level of public services and keep council tax down.

The arch Brexiteer also poured scorn on claims that Britain's environment would suffer after it leaves the EU, insisting that 'green' levels would be 'enhanced and protected'.

WATCH footage from the visit here:

Mr Gove visited Dudley Council's Lister Road Depot, which employs 450 staff in environmental services including street cleansing, bin collections and street lighting.

The Conservative-led authority is exploring ways to make the centre commercially viable, and also offers an MOT service from there.

"I've been impressed by everything I have seen here and it reflects incredibly well on the council staff," said Mr Gove, who spent time chatting with workers and bosses during a tour of the sprawling site.

"You have an entrepreneurial council that as well as producing a high quality service in terms of waste disposal and traffic management and road repairs, is also earning money by providing, for example, MOT services.

"I think that combination of a high level of public services and a business-like, money-making approach to making sure residents can be served better helps to keep council tax down and also helps to maintain the high quality of services that taxpayers have a right to expect."

Mr Gove also responded to concerns raised by Labour that leaving the EU could damage Britain's environment as the nation ditches EU regulations.

He said: "It is certainly the case that we have had high [environmental] standards [in Britain] and of course, those standards have improved over the course of the last 40 years and we have been in the EU during that time.

"But let's not forget that some the high environmental standards that Britain is responsible for is a direct result of British politicians, who have pressed for those standards, and the British public who have demanded them.

"Outside the EU we are going to make sure that our environment is enhanced and protected.

"We believe in a greener Britain."

Mr Gove visited the site with Dudley Council's Tory leader Councillor Patrick Harley, who was accompanied by Councillor Karen Shakespeare and the Tory candidate for the upcoming election in St Thomas' ward, Jonathan Elliott.

He faces opposition from Steve Waltho (Labour), Francis Sheppard (Green) and Phil Wimlett (UKIP), in the May 3 poll.

Mr Gove also visited Walsall, where he was due at the Goscote works.