Cost of dying on the up in Wolverhampton

The proposal reveals how the amount paid by grieving families to cover costs involved when burying or cremating a loved one in Wolverhampton will increase from November 1.

The idea will be discussed at a meeting of the council’s resources panel on Tuesday.

Councillor Wendy Thompson, Leader of the Conservatives on the council, said: “The cost of arranging a funeral or maintaining burial sites is considerable.

“These are costs that are of great concern to families at a difficult time in their lives.

“The council may be desperate for money but it should be helping families deal with these emotional, stressful times by looking elsewhere to increase charges.”

A variety of charges involved in putting a loved one to rest are to go up if council bosses approve the plans.

The cost of cremating someone over the age of 17 would increase from £715 including VAT to £725. Removing organs and other body parts during post mortem would also rise from £65 including VAT to £75.

The cost of renewing a burial plot for a further 25 years, if the burial space remains, could go up from £625 including VAT to £635.

Reserving a plot for burial has been recommended to rise from £130 with VAT to £140. Replacing a memorial could hit £35, up for £30, with the cost of putting a vase on a grave also set to rise. Having a ceramic photograph included on a gravestone will go up by £5 to £35, as will protective frames.

The cost of memorial benches will go up from £830 including VAT to £840.

The price of having a simple plastic posy vase on a grave is also to increase by 40p to £2. Different crematoriums and graveyards would see different charges introduced.

Bushbury Crematorium would charge for providing a replacement plaque with engraved motif at a cost of £202 while a hand-painted version would cost £215 under the plans.

New Moseley vase style memorials at the crematorium will cost £310 in a new charge too.

Councillor Andrew Johnson, City of Wolverhampton’s cabinet member for resources, said: “We review the fees and charges for different services each year.

“There are essential services such as burial where we try and keep rises to an absolute minimum – and this year we are not proposing any increase in burial fees.

“For other services across the council we will increase, freeze or reduce prices based on costs and demand for those services.

“Income from fees and charges make an important contribution to enable the council to continue to provide these services.”