Residents in one of London's most central boroughs are facing eye-watering increases in the cost of laying their loved ones to rest. Westminster City Council has announced plans to significantly raise fees at two of its cemeteries, with the price for burying ashes set to skyrocket.
Steep Rises for Final Resting Places
The fee for interring cremated remains at Hanwell Cemetery and Mill Hill Cemetery is expected to leap by a staggering 165% next year. For Westminster residents, this means the cost will jump by £249, from the current £151 to a new total of £400. The council shared these figures in a newly published list of charges.
Cremation costs are also in for a sharp rise, with a proposed 56% increase taking the fee from £599 to £935. In fact, all interment fees for city residents at these two sites are scheduled to increase by between 25% and 27%. While costs for non-residents will see smaller percentage hikes of 4% to 13%, their starting fees are substantially higher.
A Wider Picture of Increasing Council Charges
The cemetery fees are part of a broader review of charges by Westminster City Council, set to be considered by the Cabinet on Monday, December 15. The council stated that many increases exceed this year's annual inflation rate of 3.8%, citing "commercial analysis of markets and considerations around cost recovery," including rises in staff pay.
The uplifts across all services are projected to bring in an additional £5.9 million, contributing to a total budgeted income from fees of £164 million. This income funds a wide range of services from waste collection to planning.
Other notable increases include:
- Residential licences or a Deed of Variation: Rising 82% (£720) from £880 to £1,600.
- Building control charges: Expected to increase by 30%.
- Public conveniences: A 25% rise.
- Discretionary planning fees: Up by 10%.
In a move to support residents, the council has chosen to scrap burial fees for infants aged 0-5 and will freeze bulky household waste collection charges. Fees at the council's third cemetery, East Finchley, will see more modest rises of 4% and 11%.
Council Defends "Cost Recovery" Approach
Councillor David Boothroyd, Westminster City Council's Cabinet Member for Finance and Council Reform, defended the changes. "In order to continue providing excellent services to our residents, we've reviewed our fees to keep up with rising costs and what's typical across London," he said.
"This process has been informed by market analysis and inflationary trends." Cllr Boothroyd added, "We'll never charge more than it costs to deliver the service and all our fee income helps to keep council tax low for our residents."
The council confirmed that fees are reviewed annually and calculated "on a full cost recovery basis." A majority of last year's increases were also above the rate of inflation, with only a few, such as library fees, rising less or not at all.
