Falkirk councillors agree 12.5% bereavement charge increase to help make more cemeteries

Falkirk councillors have agreed a 12.5% increase in charges for bereavement services across the district, starting next year, after hearing that the extra cash will help create more cemeteries.

Members of Falkirk Council’s executive heard this week that space for burials would run out in 13 years unless urgent action is taken now, as 20 of the district’s 29 cemeteries are already at capacity.

Future sites that have been identified include an extension to the cemetery in Camelon, on land that was a football pitch, while ground investigations will be done on land on Bantaskine Estate, Falkirk and beside Denny’s Broad Street.

But members were told that an investment of £1.5m is required to take these plans forward and the proposed increase in charges reflected this.

Falkirk Council is one of 14 local authorities in Scotland that operates its own crematorium and in this year’s budget in March, councillors agreed to hold cremation prices at the 2024-25 rates while burials and lair purchases saw a ten per cent increase.

But with rising costs affecting the service and such an urgent need for investment, members agreed that the service could increase charges by 12.5% in 2026/27.

Councillors were told that this could mean Falkirk moving from the sixth most expensive local authority for adult internment to fifth.

Before the strategy was drafted, a public consultation revealed that nearly two-thirds of those responding supported increases in fees to maintain and improve local provision.

The consultation also reflected how important it is to people that cemeteries are close to home and well maintained as well as a growing interest in environmentally sensitive options such as natural burials.

Some responses also said they were concerned about the increasing costs of funerals and related services and called for more affordable and cheaper options – particularly for those on low incomes.

At the meeting, the Labour proposed an amendment, suggesting that the council should talk to local funeral directors about an “agreed approach to the provision of a dignified funeral at an affordable cost”.

Labour group leader councillor Anne Hannah told members that they wanted to see something similar to arrangements in East Ayrshire, and asked that a report be brought to the executive as soon as is practicable.

This was accepted by the SNP administration.

However, Labour’s demand that the financial decision be delayed until the next budget was not accepted.

Labour were also concerned that the strategy will give council officers the power to increase charges in the future without councillors’ approval.

But they were told that elected members will still have the power to question any price rises and challenge them if necessary.