Cremation and burial fees to rise by 5%

The cost of cremations and burials is set to increase in Coventry after councillors voted to raise prices in the city.

Residents will also have to pay more for grave plots after Coventry City Council agreed a 5% hike in bereavement costs at a meeting.

The move will bring the council an extra £350,000 per year and is part of wider cuts saving up to £9m.

Cabinet member for finance Richard Brown said he believed the authority had the "right balance" when deciding the price rise.

In a report submitted to the authority at Tuesday's meeting, council officers warned the hike in fees could spark backlash.

Grieving families may opt to go outside the city for funerals, local funeral directors may complain and it could attract media attention, the report warned.

Officials also admitted the rise in costs was "unprecedented".

The authority's crematorium in Canley is already the most expensive council-run facility in the country, with fees currently set at £1,165 during the week and £1,728 on Saturdays.

Those costs will rise to £1,223 and £1,814 respectively under the new scheme.

Speaking about the council's 2025-26 budget at the meeting, Brown stressed the most unpopular budget plans had been scrapped following a rise in government cash to the council.

The council will also spend an extra £2.2m as part of the budget, which will come into force from April, including a cash boost of £330,000 for Godiva festival, £300,000 for community safety, £500,000 on tackling fly-tipping and £1m fixing the city's roads.

"Some savings will still be needed," Brown said.

"But I strongly believe we have found the right balance which drives efficiency over cuts, keeps our finances viable and starts to reinvest in services so that for the first time in many years, Coventry people can get more for their money, not less."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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