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Fife Council chief suggests funeral costs are set to rise

Any hike would come at a time of increasing funeral poverty.
Any hike would come at a time of increasing funeral poverty.

Funeral costs are expected to be hiked when Fife Council sets its budget.

It comes at a time when many families are suffering from funeral poverty and are unable to pay bills after laying a loved one to rest.

A report published by Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) last week called on the governments at Westminster and Holyrood to support people who struggle with living costs after paying for a funeral.

Fraser Sutherland from CAS said: “CAS are concerned at the large increases in burial and cremation costs across Scotland over the last few years.

“These have left some families now unable to cover even a simple funeral for their loved one.

“Last year we revealed the shocking postcode lottery in burial and cremation charges across Scotland.

“CAS has repeatedly called for restraint on increases to burial or cremation charges and it is always disappointing to hear of above-inflation hikes.

“Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) have helped 35% more clients this year compared to last who are struggling to pay for a basic funeral.

“Based on our most recent figures we estimate one in every 30 funerals organised in Scotland results in someone seeking help from their local CAB.”

Council leader David Ross hinted that fees are likely to rise.

He said: “The council’s charges for this are a small proportion of overall funeral costs and we need to look at this in context of what people like funeral directors actually charge for their part.

“There is suggestion of some uplift in cost. However, we are sensitive to the demands on families at this sensitive time.”

The local authority had been expected to set its budget last week but took the unprecedented step of delaying funding decisions until February 25.

Mr Ross called for the delay after a letter from Finance Secretary John Swinney “outlined significant changes to the terms of the grant offer from the Scottish Government”.

He said the council had also been given very little time to consider an additional £17 million in savings imposed by the Scottish Government.

But SNP councillor David Alexander dismissed the idea that the council was getting less money. He said the Government was granting Fife £29m towards health and social care, and the council had access to £17m of the total.