Coventry City Council to raise cost of burial and cremations in the city

If approved at a meeting on Monday, burial could cost an additional £174

The cost of being cremated or buried in Coventry could rise from next month.

Coventry Council have today announced that they will discuss plans to increase charges and introduce fees for other currently free services at a meeting on October 10.

Council bosses have cited financial pressures as the reason for raising costs for the first time since 2014.

If plans are approved, city residents can expect to pay £964 instead of £790 for an adult burial and £737 instead of £641 for an adult cremation.

The new charges would come into force on November 1.

As well as discussing increasing the cost of burials, the council will also be working towards making cremations and burials for under-16s free of charge.

A report which outlines all these plans also recommends that introductory charges be approved for services which are currently free.

These include late arrivals for a service or overrun services , provision of temporary markers for new graves and retention of ashes in the crematorium among other things.

Council bosses have said that they hope the amended charges will mean they can do maintenance to the cemeteries without cutting frontline services.

Andrew Walster, Coventry City Council’s assistant director with responsibility for bereavement services , said: “Our burial and cremation fees are among the lowest in the region, but with the financial pressures we are facing, we have to look at bringing our charges more in line with other cities.

“We have done this as carefully as we can – checking how much our near neighbours charge and pledging that there will be no further price rises until 2018.

“Funerals and cremations are always difficult but we are looking to provide these services free of change for anyone under 16.

“If we keep charges at the current level, it means we would have to find money from elsewhere, putting other vital frontline council services at risk.”

The council have said the extra money would help to fund work on road surfaces in London Road and Canley Cemeteries, and the creation of new sections at Lentons Lane Cemetery with improved drainage.

Mr Walster added: “We know funerals and cremations are very difficult times for people and by making these changes we can make sure that we give the best service possible and provide the help and support that people need and expect at such a time.”

Should nt the council keep up with recent news on the high rise of paupers burials in this country.

They really have a captive audience with this one don't they?

Late for your own funeral? That'll be £158 every 15 minutes



Being late for your own funeral in Coventry could cost your loved ones £158 every 15 minutes until it gets under way.

The proposed charge - also levied at overrunning services - is part of a raft of planned price hikes for burials and cremations in the city, including a 50% surcharge for being cremated at the weekend.

Cremation, set to rise 15% to £737 on weekdays, would leap to £1106 on Saturdays.

Coventry City Council says the rises are to cover costs of running bereavement services and to bring fees and charges in line with surrounding local authorities.

The increases, if approved, would take effect from 1 November this year, with more following every year from 2018 until 2021.

There for these costs including funeral costs death cirtificate burial plot should reflect on a rise in pensions wages also dhss for the least well off .

if approved

I think we know they will be, don't we? - Though I'll be happy to be proven wrong.