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| Grieving families go private as the cost of council-run cremations soars | Grieving families go private as the cost of council-run cremations soars |
| (4 months later) | |
| Rsing fees and service cuts prompt shift from local authority venues | |
| Jamie Doward | |
| Sun 10 Sep 2017 07.00 BST | |
| Last modified on Sat 2 Dec 2017 02.44 GMT | |
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| A sharp rise in cremation fees has attracted a new wave of private companies into the British market that are keen to win business from council-run services hit by local government cuts. | A sharp rise in cremation fees has attracted a new wave of private companies into the British market that are keen to win business from council-run services hit by local government cuts. |
| A new report, Death, Dying and Devolution, by the University of Bath Institute for Policy Research, suggests that the sector is undergoing a period of expansion that has not been experienced for decades, as private-sector companies, such as Dignity, which is floated on the stock market, and the Westerleigh Group, which is owned by a Canadian pension fund, seek to fill the gaps in provision left by the public sector. | A new report, Death, Dying and Devolution, by the University of Bath Institute for Policy Research, suggests that the sector is undergoing a period of expansion that has not been experienced for decades, as private-sector companies, such as Dignity, which is floated on the stock market, and the Westerleigh Group, which is owned by a Canadian pension fund, seek to fill the gaps in provision left by the public sector. |
| The newcomers claim the rise in fees imposed by council-owned crematoriums has not seen corresponding improvements in service, with many customers expressing frustation at lengthening waits to have their loved ones cremated. There are also rigid rules governing the sort of services council premises can offer. | The newcomers claim the rise in fees imposed by council-owned crematoriums has not seen corresponding improvements in service, with many customers expressing frustation at lengthening waits to have their loved ones cremated. There are also rigid rules governing the sort of services council premises can offer. |
| Last year a parliamentary inquiry heard evidence that the average length of time between death and cremation in 2013 was about 15 days, five days longer than a decade before. | Last year a parliamentary inquiry heard evidence that the average length of time between death and cremation in 2013 was about 15 days, five days longer than a decade before. |
| The report notes that, while local authorities remain the largest providers of crematoriums throughout the UK, they are likely to lose their market share as the sector evolves, which could hurt them financially. | The report notes that, while local authorities remain the largest providers of crematoriums throughout the UK, they are likely to lose their market share as the sector evolves, which could hurt them financially. |
| “There’s pressure on local government with funding being decreased,” said Brendan Day, technical coordinator at the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities, who wrote the section of the report on cremations. “Crematoria, along with car parks, are probably the two of the larger income generators for local authorities, so they are increasing their fees to offset cuts elsewhere.” | “There’s pressure on local government with funding being decreased,” said Brendan Day, technical coordinator at the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities, who wrote the section of the report on cremations. “Crematoria, along with car parks, are probably the two of the larger income generators for local authorities, so they are increasing their fees to offset cuts elsewhere.” |
| In the past decade cremation fees have risen by more than 100% in some regions. The most expensive fee has risen by 80%, from £552 to £999, charged in 10 areas across the UK, while the cheapest has more than doubled from £151 to £364. | In the past decade cremation fees have risen by more than 100% in some regions. The most expensive fee has risen by 80%, from £552 to £999, charged in 10 areas across the UK, while the cheapest has more than doubled from £151 to £364. |
| The increase means that smaller sites can turn a profit on just 600 cremations a year. This has resulted in crematoriums springing up across the UK, with applications to build many more in the pipeline. | The increase means that smaller sites can turn a profit on just 600 cremations a year. This has resulted in crematoriums springing up across the UK, with applications to build many more in the pipeline. |
| “The private sector offers a lot more flexibility,” said Day, who stressed that he was speaking in a personal capacity. “If you want a cremation at 3am tomorrow morning, if it’s a private site, then they’ll most likely say yes. If you’d like a really large memorial in the grounds, they’ll be open to discussing it with you, whereas local authorities tend to point to the regulations.” | “The private sector offers a lot more flexibility,” said Day, who stressed that he was speaking in a personal capacity. “If you want a cremation at 3am tomorrow morning, if it’s a private site, then they’ll most likely say yes. If you’d like a really large memorial in the grounds, they’ll be open to discussing it with you, whereas local authorities tend to point to the regulations.” |
| Day warned that council-run crematoriums now needed to respond to the challenge if they are to survive as revenue sources. “A lot of local authority sites are tired and run down; they might get a lick of paint occasionally. If they do not keep up with the levels of investment that the private sector put into their new facilities then people will vote with their feet. | Day warned that council-run crematoriums now needed to respond to the challenge if they are to survive as revenue sources. “A lot of local authority sites are tired and run down; they might get a lick of paint occasionally. If they do not keep up with the levels of investment that the private sector put into their new facilities then people will vote with their feet. |
| “Cremation is the last thing that you will do for your loved one. “If you have the choice between a well-managed site which has received a lot of investment and one that doesn’t, then naturally you will want to go to the better one.”” | “Cremation is the last thing that you will do for your loved one. “If you have the choice between a well-managed site which has received a lot of investment and one that doesn’t, then naturally you will want to go to the better one.”” |
| The popularity of cremation is a relatively new phenomenon. In the 1940s only 4% of people were cremated. Today almost four out of five people choose it. The changing dynamics in the cremation market come as the UK faces a looming burial crisis, with new burial space at a premium. | The popularity of cremation is a relatively new phenomenon. In the 1940s only 4% of people were cremated. Today almost four out of five people choose it. The changing dynamics in the cremation market come as the UK faces a looming burial crisis, with new burial space at a premium. |
| “Cemetery and crematorium capacity has been allowed to drift for decades, meaning that across the country we are unprepared for the projected rise in the death rate and increased demand on services,” said Dr Kate Woodthorpe from the Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath, which will publish the report on Tuesday. | “Cemetery and crematorium capacity has been allowed to drift for decades, meaning that across the country we are unprepared for the projected rise in the death rate and increased demand on services,” said Dr Kate Woodthorpe from the Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath, which will publish the report on Tuesday. |
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