Fees for bereavement services provided by Powys County Council will increase next month, it has been confirmed.

The council has recently reviewed the fees for this service and the increase will come into force from Friday 1 January, 2016. The council manages 19 cemeteries across the county.

Some of the bereavement services affected by the increases include burial registration, burial excavation, the scattering of ashes and the purchase of exclusive right of burial.

Cllr John Powell, Cabinet Member for Environmental Protection, said: “The council is facing severe financial pressures and has to find £27m of savings over the next three financial years.

“This means we have to review the services we provide, including the fees for council services such as our bereavement services.

“There are significant costs associated with managing our 19 cemeteries including grave digging and regular maintenance of our cemeteries. The increases enable the council to fully recover the cost of the service.

“Taking the decision to increase fees is never easy but with the financial pressures that we are faced with, we have no other options but to increase these fees.”

The current fees and revised fees are outlined below:

Bereavement services

Current Fee

Revised fee (from 1 January 2016)

Registration

£135.24

£223.14

Excavation

-double/reopen

£475.09

£783.89

-single

£376.91

£621.90

-cremated remains

£119.28

£196.81

-children >1 month

£222.74

£367.52

-children<1 month

£114.43

£188.80

Exclusive Rights of Burial

-burial(adult over 12 years old)

£433.99

£716.08

-cremated remains

£215.03

£354.79

-children > 1 month

£217.46

£358.80

-children < 1 month

£108.74

£179.42

Scattering of Ashes

£135.24

£223.14

Erect headstone

£108.74

£179.42

Erect kerbstone/cover slab

£108.74

£179.42

Add inscription

£27.59

£45.52

Memorial plaque

£50.50

£83.32

Saturday

burial

No extra charge

£400

cremated remains

No extra charge

£200

Home burials

No charge

£100

Hire of Chapel

£70.73

£116.70

Registration of disinterment

£135.24

£223.14

Exhumation-EHO attendance

£135.24

£223.14

Fees will continued to be doubled for the burial of non-Powys residents.