Concerns have been raised about removing those grit bins in Solihull which are attracting anti-social behaviour, with fears this would "punish" law-abiding residents.
Councillors have been told that many of the borough's 267 containers are becoming "eyesores", proving a target for vandals or being stuffed with general litter and bags of dog mess.
There are also growing concerns about the amount of gritting salt being pinched for private driveways, following repeated requests to refill the bins last winter.
Despite the raft of problems, members of Solihull Council's stronger communities and neighbourhood services scrutiny board voiced reservations about taking away the containers which were being abused.
The board had been asked whether it endorsed this policy, with their views due to be fed back to Cllr Ted Richards, the cabinet member for transport and highways.
Cllr James Butler (Con, Blythe) said he would be uncomfortable with an approach which penalised local people.
"I agree that it's tremendously frustrating when you open a grit bin and it's full of rubbish. Most of the ones around my ward are. It's incredibly inconsiderate.
"However, I believe that removing them is punishing people for someone else's crimes really.
"They're a necessity for road safety [and] for pavement safety. So it's a pain that they're abused, but I think removing them would start a torrent of criticism from law-abiding citizens."
Cllr Jean Hamilton (Green, Smith's Wood) recalled that previous changes had proven unpopular with many residents, with worries that the removal of certain bins made things harder on elderly people who wanted to get out and about.
"I can remember sitting here around a table some years ago when we halved the number of grit bins and that was very controversial," she said.
"I felt at that time that although we might have been saving money, the National Health Service might not ... if people were falling over."
It has been estimated that the current cost of replenishing bins during a severe winter is around £68,000.
In light of the problems and in an effort to ease the pressure on budgets, the council is considering whether to supply Solihull's 16 parish and town councils with hand salt spreaders. A team of volunteers would then be tasked with treating their local area.
Highways officers believe this service could build stronger links with local communities.
The initiative could also involve other residents' groups, although the council has conceded that the existing arrangements would have to continue in areas where no such groups existed.
Alan Brown, assistant director for highways and the environment, said that the scrutiny board's view on taking out the problematic grit bins was designed to give "a steer" to Cllr Richards.
"As officers we're not swayed either way. We would just like your feedback on whether that's acceptable. If members feel it is not then we will give that feedback to the cabinet member."
Cllr Diana Holl-Allen, the scrutiny board's chair, said it was evident from the discussions that there was a certain "nervousness" about the proposal and asked for these views to be passed on.
