Waste operatives in Teignbridge are set to be paid more as the council tries to retain and recruit more HGV drivers.

Teignbridge is among a number of local authorities struggling to recruit people because of a national shortage of HGV drivers, compounded by supermarkets and food hauliers offering higher wages.

Despite having a "rolling recruitment programme," the district council currently has 11 HGV driver vacancies, to which it is had "minimal responses." They last recruited such a driver in June.

Agency drivers are starting to be used by the council, but a report to the executive said they are also in short supply, with "only two available to date."

The council's executive therefore recommended it should increase driver wages from the current average of £23,088 to £24,491. This would bring the district, which has been paying less than other councils, in line with the rest of Devon.

The raise for drivers is part of a wider increase in pay recommended for all 166 staff in the waste department from December, including loaders, sweepers and supervisors. Subject to full council approval, the decision will cost £80,000 until April and an annual £240,000 from the next financial year.

Explaining why all waste staff would be getting raises, the report adds: "It is particularly important, given the recent and ongoing challenges faced by frontline operational staff, that the entirety of the workforce is considered and no particular section of staff feel excluded from any pay awards.

"It is also necessary that those with responsibilities for staff and operational organisation are positioned at a higher rate than their reporting staff."

Councillor Alistair Dewhirst (Lib Dem, Ipplepen), executive member for recycling, household waste and environmental health told the meeting: "I think this is the right thing to do. At the moment we have 52 full-time equivalent HGV drivers, and sadly we're short of eleven, so we need to get that back.

"At the moment we're putting huge pressure on the rest of the team who are having to work weekends and overtime to get the job done, but we are getting the job done and that's why I'd like to recommend this."

Along with other councils in Devon, Cllr Dewhirst has previously written to the home secretary to ask for help addressign the shortage, and suggesting HGV drivers be recognised as an 'important shortage occupation' with a two-year exemption to new immigration rules for trained drivers.

The report says: "In order to attract and retain operational staff the employment offerings need to remain competitive. Failure to take steps to address the issues faced will lead to further significant service disruptions, increased levels of complaints and potentially damage the council's reputation."

A meeting of the full council will vote on approving the salary changes at the end of November.