The cost of burials on the Isle of Wight could stay the same after an increase in fees was halted, but the price of cremations is still set to rise.
The pause in the charge increase, however, has already lost the Isle of Wight Council £10,000.
Five to ten per cent increase planned
Following the approval of the Isle of Wight Council’s budget in February, for the 2022/23 financial year, bereavement service fees were going to increase between five and ten per cent.
But councillors were concerned about the affordability to Islanders.
Revised fee structure
The cabinet is now looking to put in a revised fee structure, which will keep some charges the same as last year but see others increase.
The recently released cabinet report reveals the only change in the cremation fees is that for a direct cremation — which could cost £482, instead of the £608 approved in February alongside other cremation increases.
When the fee increase was frozen in March, however, Cllr Chris Jarman, the cabinet member for strategic finances, said the cost would be reduced to £450.
Burial costs will remain the same.
Losing £10k per month
The introduction of the fees approved in the budget would make the council £120,000 — £30,000 in fees for the live streaming video service and £90,000 from the increase in fees.
For each month the introduction is delayed though, it will lose the council £10,000.
This is a financial risk, the council says, as the income supports other services.
Pause in fee rise would have cost £30k
Should the revised fees be introduced, as officers recommend, on 1st July, then the pause would have cost the authority £30,000.
The other option for cabinet members is to not implement the revised charges, meaning the council would have to find £120,000 from elsewhere in the council’s budget.
Cabinet decision
Cabinet will make the decision on whether to introduce the implemented fees and undertake a business model review on Thursday, 12th May.
Currently, in the bereavement services business model, there is an annual 5.4 per cent increase in fees built into the budget.
What the review includes
The review will include a look at rising utility costs, which is already a potential budget pressure for the authority, with financial modelling to include additional funds for maintenance and refurbishment.
The report says the administration is intending to proactively seek new streams of income it can reinvest in services for the community by acting in a more commercially-focused manner.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
