Agenda item

Joint Report of the Treasurer to the Joint Committee / Corporate Director: Resources and the Corporate Director of Neighbourhood Services.

The Principal Accountant referred Members to Fees and Charges 2016/17 report (for copy see file of minutes).

Members recalled that last year it had been agreed by the Joint Committee to hold the fees at a standstill position, to take into account the improvement works that were being carried out to the Chapel area during the summer months.  It was now proposed to raise fees by 3.3% for 2016/17, the cost of an adult cremation to be £650.  It was noted that the average cost for neighbouring facilities in 2015/16 was £681.  It was added that it was proposed that the fee for child cremations remained as a nil charge, however there would be a slight increase of £3 in respect of the fee for the Book of Remembrance, to reflect increased calligraphy costs.

For information it was noted the cost of the organist would increase by £10 to £35, however this was paid directly to the individual and did not form part of the Crematorium budget. 

Councillors noted that the proposed fees and charges would be also mirrored at the Council’s other Crematorium at Mountsett and that Mountsett would be undertaking a similar exercise to that taken by Durham in respect of cremator replacement and improvement works.

Resolved:

(i)      That the proposed fees and charges as set out at Appendix 2 to the report    be approved and be effective from 1 April 2016, including the increase to       charges by £20 (3.3%) pre cremation from £630 to £650.

(ii)     That the approved fees and charges be incorporated into the 2016/17       Budget.