Dudley burial fees rise to meet cash savings

The hike will be brought in as Dudley Council continues its battle to meet savings of £20 million over the next three years.

Among the fees to rise are the cost of exclusive right of burial on a plot which will rise from £1,935 to £2,090. Cremation costs will rise from £344 to £372.

New fee charges will also come into force for a range of leisure centre and museum services.

Dudley Council officials, in a report, said increases are in line with inflation and every effort has been made to minimise the rise in cost.

Some fees have also remained the same as previous years.

A report to Councillor Khurshid Ahmed said: "In general, increases are proposed to account for inflationary increases and pressures that individual services face, and are calculated at a level required to meet income targets set as part of the council's budget.

"In addition specific services include amounts within their fees and charges, as they have in previous years, which allow for reinvestment in those services through facility improvements and developments.

"Any increases are in line with inflation and every effort has been made to minimise increases and in some instances to hold prices at current levels."

Previously council chiefs said they had invested in bereavement services and facilities.

These include a £1.1 million upgrade of cremation facilities at Gornal Wood Crematorium, while future upgrades of the cremation facilities at Stourbridge Crematorium are in the pipeline.

Elsewhere fees for hiring rooms at council venues have also been increased.

Parking fees at Himley Park will also rise with the cost of two hours parking going up by 20p from £1.20 to £1.40.

The cost of some museum activities will rise although admission will remain free.

They include some sessions or schools events at the Red House Glass Cone.

Dudley UKIP group leader, Councillor Paul Brothwood, urged the council to look again at raising fees in the future.

"I appreciate that the council needs to raise revenue but the council could look at other ways rather than putting up fees like cutting the fat from the council like stopping employing workers on high daily rates, reducing the directors and reducing the use of agency staff," he said.