BEREAVEMENT SERVICES PRICE REVIEW CONSULTATION

Over the last few years, the council bereavement service has seen an increase in fees which has brought charges more in line with other service providers and has helped to reduce the net subsidy of service. This consultation is to seek views on a further price rise from 1st February 2018.

The Council is responsible for the management of 26 cemeteries, 25 closed church yards and 3 crematoria. Over the last few years, the council has reinvested over £5m as part of the council’s long term burial strategy and mercury abatement programme and has also carried out general improvements across the council’s cemeteries and crematoria. Some examples includethe following:

  • Extending the car parking facilities at Cottingley Crematorium
  • Improving the entrance and vehicular movements at Lawnswood Crematorium
  • Increasing the memorialisation and the installation of a water supply at Garforth Cemetery
  • The replacement of cremators at Cottingley and Rawdon has also taken place which has created opportunities for other refurbishment works to be undertaken at both of these locations.

The Council remains committed to improving our cemeteries and crematoria and is also mindful that they are also used as places for quiet reflection. This in turn helps bereaved families when they come to visit and remember their loved ones.

Among the broader financial considerations, between 2010/11 and 2017/18, the council’s core funding from government has reduced by around £239 million and in addition the council has faced significant demand-led cost pressures. This has also impacted on the Parks and Countryside service, which has seen a reduction in budget of around £7.5m when comparing before 2010 to 2017/18, with further savings expected in 2018/19.

If you want to help shape the future of our cemeteries and crematoria locally, please read this document and then let us have your views. You can feed your views back to us in the following ways:

  • Fill in the form on page 3 and send it toParks and Countryside, Farnley Hall, Hall Lane, Leeds LS12 5HA.
  • Respond to the questions on page 3 via e-mail at .

TIMESCALE

The consultation period will close on Wednesday 24th January 2018, following which a decision will be made set out in the form of a delegated decision on the council website.

WHAT DO WE WANT TO ACHIEVE?

The Council is reviewing bereavement service charges and is proposing to increase these charges from the 1st February 2018. The planned increase is 4% which includes a 1% above inflation price increase to fund two additional rangers to work with volunteers and develop further community group participation at cemeteries and crematoria.

A report to the council’s executive board in December 2017 on the budget for 2018/19 included a figure of £200k ‘Bereavement charges - inflationary increase, net of costs for additional communityengagement’. Furthermore a recommendation was also approved following an Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board review of cemetery and crematoria horticultural maintenance grave conditions. This recommendation stated “That a proposal is brought forward to recruit two additional rangers funded via bereavement services revenue to work with existing volunteers and ‘friends of’ groups as well as establish new community groups that support practical volunteer activities in cemeteries and crematoria.”

It is considered that the best way to meet this recommendation without increasing the level of subsidy is an above inflation price increase. This would enable cemeteries and crematoria to benefit from practical volunteer tasks who would undertake basic maintenance to improve their appearance supervised by a suitably qualified ranger.

Those who may struggle to meet the proposed increase in charges through financial hardships or other such circumstances, will continue to have support in the following three ways.

  1. Under Section 50 of the National Assistance Act 1948 a local authority will meet the costs of a basic funeral where the deceased or the next of kin are not in a position to meet the expenses. In Leeds there is an existing contract with a funeral director to undertake arrangements in these circumstances in partnership with Adult Social Care.
  2. A person on low income may be eligible for a Funeral Payment if they are in receipt of qualifying benefits. The payment covers various aspects of the funeral, but is recoverable from the deceased person’s estate if they have left one.
  3. NHS Trusts become responsible for the funeral arrangements of a person who dies in hospital when no relatives can be traced, or relatives are not able to afford the cost themselves and do not qualify for Funeral Payments. A claim may be made on the deceased person's estate to offset the cost involved.

PROPOSALP

BEREAVEMENT SERVICES CHARGES - WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Thank you for reading this document. Now please let us know what you think about the proposed increase in bereavement charges by filling in and returning the following form.

  1. Please indicate where you live by stating your postcode:

  1. If you have any comments on the proposal please state them below

  1. Are there any other options to increase the level of volunteers conducting practical tasks to improve cemeteries and crematoria?
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YesNo
If you have answered ‘Yes’, please indicate which further option should be considered in the box below:

The closing date for consultation is Wednesday 24thJanuary 2018. You can respond in the following ways:

  • Fill in the form on page 3 and send it to Parks and Countryside, Farnley Hall, Hall Lane, Leeds LS12 5HA.
  • Respond to the questions on page 3 via e-mail at .