Cost of dying in York runs at double the rate of inflation

The cost of dying in York is due to go up by more than twice the current inflation rate.

Fees for various City of York Council services are due to increase by an average of five per cent from January 1, 2014, if members of the cabinet agree at a meeting on Tuesday, December 3.

The price of an adult cremation at York Crematorium would go up from £734 by £43 to £777. That is an increase of 5.85 per cent.

UK inflation as measured by the consumer prices index (CPI) fell to 2.2 per cent in October, while retail prices index (RPI) inflation, which is calculated differently, was 2.6 per cent.

The interment of ashes would rise from £23 to £40, a near 74 per cent increase.

Fees at the Register Office are also set to go up above inflation. Hiring the large marriage room at the Register Office would change from £200 to £220 Monday to Thursday – a ten per cent increase – and from £280 to £300 Fridays and Saturdays (7.1 per cent).

Other increased charges would apply to

• marriage, baby naming and citizenship ceremonies at the register office
• memorials and urns at the crematorium
• waste collections
• library and local history research
• tennis pitch and bowling green hire at parks
• allotment rents
• planning services
• hire of rooms at the Mansion House, Guildhall, library and Burton Stone Community Centre.

More increases set for April

A council spokeswoman said that these increases are based on the current rate of inflation. The price rises will generate an extra £39,000 of income in the current financial year and £154,000 of income for the council in 2014/15, “to invest in priority services”.

The total annual income from all the charges affected is £3.25 million.

Potential increases to other council services, including car parking, sport and leisure charges and adult social care, could come into force from April 1, 2014.

A report to the council cabinet says that the total fee income after such increases would be £16.4 million, which includes more than £7.3 million from parking fees.

“Any non-statutory increases are currently reviewing their charging to avoid an adverse impact either on service users or the volume of activity in these areas,” the spokeswoman said.

• To read all the planned fee increases, click here (PDF)