Burial charges set for 20pc rise
Burial costs in Cannock and Rugeley will rocket by 20 per cent, it has emerged.
People wanting to purchase a two person plot in cemeteries across the district will see the fees rise by £158 from £792 to £950.
For a three-person plot the cost will increase from £860 to £1,032 and the re-opening of graves for a burial will rise from £294 to £353. The controversial increase will boost Cannock Chase District Coun-cil coffers by as much as £30,000 a year for the next three years.
Buying a plot for cremated remains will rise from £210 to £252 with the scattering of cremated remains rising by £10 to £59.
Having a headstone at a grave will cost £21 extra at £126 and a cremated remains plaque will carry a price tag of £85.
These new fees come on the back of plans to extend the charging hours on district car parks which will net the council £7,500 this year and £10,000 over the next two years. There will also be a 10p an hour increase on the council's car parks.
The fees were approved by the Liberal Democrat and Conservative coalition at the council's budget setting meeting on Wednesday.
Labour councillors have called for the fee increases to be scrapped but their budget was thrown out by the ruling parties.
Councillor Ann Bernard, cabinet member for health, defended the increases claiming the rises put Cannock Chase in line with other councils.
Rejecting the suggestion the council was making money out of people dying she said: "As far as I am aware this is the first rise for many years and we have considered what other local authorities burial costs are."
She added: "We have got plans to improve the cemeteries in the district as they have been neglected for many years. We are putting a water feature at Stile Cop and we have spent £50,000 on the lodge at the Pye Green Cemetery.
"We are not the highest charging council."
Councillor Bernard said she was hoping the cash would be spent on the cemeteries but she admitted the income was not ring fenced.
