Eric Pickles will rein in unions across the public sector by limiting time available for council officials taking part in union duties.

Speaking at a fringe meeting at the Conservative conference in Birmingham, the communities and local government secretary damned the state funding of unions, confirming that he wanted authorities to charge unions to claim subscription charges from pay rolls.

Money raised through this means could contribute towards measures such as reducing council tax, Pickles added.

Local authorities are to receive Government advice detailing the maximum period officials will be permitted to take part in union activities during working hours.

Pickles said: ‘I am delighted to announce today, in a relatively short time, we will be offering advice to local authorities both in terms of trade union time and check-off.

‘I want to retain the independence of trades unions and therefore it is massively important that they pay for things themselves,’ Pickles added.

At the same event, former defence secretary Liam Fox called for restrictions to be placed on union activity across local government, schools and the NHS.

Fox described the current payment of unions as a corrupt means of subsidising the Labour party and called for parliamentary action to review union officials across government.

‘In an era of austerity there are those who regard themselves as too potent to make a contribution. I refer not to the much maligned bankers or to the mansion owners that so irritate Lib Dems, but to one of the most protected groups now in our society – they are the trades unions,’ Fox said.