Issue - items at meetings - Life Events Fees and Charges for 2015/16 / 2016/17

Joint report of the Interim Executive Director for Finance & Resources and the Head of Legal & Democratic Services (copy attached).

That Members are requested to approve a proposal to increase fees and charges for Life Events services as set out in the appendices, for the last quarter of the current financial year (2015/16) and for the financial year 2016/17.

84.1       The Committee considered a joint report of the Interim Executive Director for Finance & Resources and the Head of Legal & Democratic Services. The report set out the proposed fees and charges for the final quarter of the 2015/16 financial year and for the 2016/17 financial year for Bereavement Services and the Register Office within Life Events.

84.2       Councillor A. Norman highlighted and commended the high quality service that was provided by Life Events in the city, and made particular example of Woodvale Crematorium. The Chair echoed these comments.

84.3       In response to Councillors Mac Cafferty it was clarified that extensive work had been undertaken to benchmark and look at measures to include graduated fee increases, the proposed increases were to keep the costs of the service in line with other providers and it was envisaged that future increases would be in line with inflation.

84.4       Councillor Hamilton took the opportunity to publically thank the work of Bereavement Services during the Shoreham Air Crash in August 2015.

84.5       The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote.

84.6       RESOLVED - That the Committee approve a proposal to increase fees and charges for Life Events services as set out in the appendices, for the last quarter of the current financial year (2015/16) and for the financial year 2016/17.