Birmingham bin strike council new chief's scented sideline selling £46 candles
Embattled Birmingham council's new boss has been selling £46 scented candles – as the city has grappled with the stench of a long-running bin strike.
Tony McArdle faces a mountain of rubbish to climb after being made lead commissioner of the cash-strapped city council this week. But we can reveal how the £1,200-a-day chief seems to already have his hands full with a side hustle – owning a boutique flogging posh homeware. We discovered the government-appointed boss co-owns Santa Maria, which offers wellbeing goods, with his wife. Among items we found on sale this week were £46 Berry Voyage and Rose Republic scented candles.
A product description for the former boasted: 'Sensual and heady, Berry Voyage captures intrepid expeditions in the Adriatic, arboretum gardens and coastal reveries. The fresh notes of sun-ripened fruit berries, green Sichuan pepper berries and exotic Stargazer lily petals perfectly balanced by rich and purifying elements of Palo Santo.'
By sharp contrast, this week it emerged fly-tipping reports in Birmingham have nearly doubled since industrial action – with enforcement teams stretched to capacity. Members of Unite have been on an all-out strike since March in a dispute over pay, leading to bags of rubbish piling up across the city's streets. Last month it was reported many have complained the heatwave worsened the situation in the city. The stench from overflowing bins was said to be forcing some to put extra bags around already-bagged rubbish in a bid to contain the smell. One resident told the BBC: 'My neighbour can't open her windows because the piles of rubbish are near where she lives, and the flies, it's a fly-fest." And another added: 'We have to hold our nose every time we step out [of the house].'
Meanwhile, a social media post by Santa Maria earlier this year said: 'Welcome to Santa Maria Boutique, where timeless elegance meets modern wellbeing. From beautifully curated homeware to luxury holiday essentials, every piece in our boutique is carefully selected to bring a touch of indulgence into your life. Think European-inspired kimonos, artisan skincare, hand-poured candles, and stylish sunglasses—the perfect combination of sophistication and relaxation. Whether you're shopping for a special piece or just want to browse, our boutique is your destination for elevated living."
Other items we found this week for sale online at Santa Maria – which has a website and shop in Lincoln – included £28 lanterns, £43 gemstone lights and £45 throws. In the wellbeing section, goods included £79 purity paste, £18 vanilla afterglow solid perfume balm and £70 wake-up droplets. But some of Santa Maria's products, including the candles, later disappeared from the shop's website after we spotted them this week. Santarosa Ltd, understood to be the firm behind Santa Maria, is owned by Mr McArdle and his wife via Priora Consulting Ltd.
Mr McArdle said: 'Alongside my wife, I am listed as the Director of a small business based in Lincoln. This is my wife's business, and I am not involved in its day-to-day operation.' Birmingham City Council declared effective bankruptcy in 2023, with government commissioners brought in to run it. A council spokesperson said: "Tony McCardle is a well-respected figure in local government, with experience in interventions including as the Lead Commissioner in Nottingham and Chair of the London Borough of Croydon Improvement and Assurance Panel, but has also served as Chief Executive of Lincolnshire County Council and Wellingborough Council. We are very keen to continue the pace of progress and ensure it does not slow down during the change. We look forward to working closely with him in the months ahead."
The council added: '...since the council secured a court order on 23 May to prevent picketers from blocking vehicles from leaving the depots, we have been able to deploy our contingency for waste collection. This contingency for waste collection has been broadly held since 23 May, with residents receiving a waste collection once per week. The initial backlog of waste caused by strike action has been cleared.'
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: 'Tony McArdle OBE brings a range of experience to the role of lead commissioner at Birmingham City Council, having been a well-respected council chief executive who also led interventions at other authorities. The department has established processes in place to manage conflicts of interests, and we are confident Tony is the best person for this role and will make a significant contribution to Birmingham's ongoing improvement. Our priority is to continue supporting the council in its recovery, including assisting with the successful efforts to keep the city's streets clean amid the ongoing industrial action.'
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