Purpose

New Forest District Council, as the statutory Waste Collection Authority, has undergone a significant service transition.

These changes necessitated a significant increase in the number of qualified HGV drivers to respond to an increase in collection rounds to meet statutory obligations.

The Council is competing with other local authorities and private sector operators for a limited pool of qualified HGV drivers.

The recommendation is a necessary and proportionate response to current market conditions and operational demands. It will help safeguard essential services and position the Council to meet future waste collections effectively.

Decision

To apply the annual pay award of 3.3% to driver base salaries, and a market forces supplement of 2.5% to HGV driver salaries from 1 October 2026, in strict accordance with the Market Forces policy.