Cost of dying is going up again after Wolverhampton council budget squeezed
The cost of dying is going up in Wolverhampton, with burial charges among a host of fees poised to rise as council bosses bid to plug a £54.6 million deficit.
Charges across a range of services – including burials, parking and room hire – are in line for an increase. They are expected to be introduced as early as November 12.
Burial costs are due to see an increase of £22, from £1,018 to £1,040 with further rises in related extras such as memorials, urns and even entries in Books of Remembrance.
The council's Cabinet Resources Panel is expected to recommend the changes at a Fees and Charges review meeting next Tuesday.
Wolverhampton council fees and charges
Councillor Andrew Johnson, City of Wolverhampton Council's cabinet member for resources, said: "We review the fees and charges levied for different services each year.
"There are essential services such as burial, with a proposed two per cent increase this year, where we try and keep any cost increases in line with projected inflation.
For other services we will increase, freeze or reduce prices based on demand.
For example, we are proposing to reduce the rent stallholders have to pay at our markets with the aim of increasing occupancy levels to support our markets.
Income from fees and charges make an important contribution to enable the council to continue to provide these services"
Other areas hit by the price increases include the cost of hiring rooms for early years services, with hourly rates rising by between 10 and 18 per cent, and as much as 27 per cent to rent outside play areas. Parking, both on and off road, will go up, while the cost of a three-month season ticket in the new Civic Centre car park goes up from £252 to £300.
On the agenda papers, it states: "The Council makes a wide range of fees and charges for many of its services. Some are discretionary and others are either specified or restricted by legislation or Government policy.
All fees and charges within the Council's control, influenced by or associated with the Council, shall be approved by the Cabinet (Resources) Panel.
The Cabinet shall consider underlying cost and the extent of cost recovery and or subsidy, comparison with other providers of similar or equivalent services and effect on demand."
