Crematorium: Proposed Charges for 2012

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A decision made on 22 December 2011:

Decision Reference: MD-HSS-2011-0058
Decision Summary Title :	Crematorium – proposed charges for 2012		Date of Decision Summary:	22nd December 2011
Decision Summary Author:	Director of Older People’s Service		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:
Written Report Title :	Crematorium – Proposed Charges for 2012		Date of Written Report:	22nd December 2011
Written Report Author:	Director of Older People’s Service		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Proposed Crematorium Charges for 2012.
Decision(s): The Minister requests the Treasurer of the States to approve a proposed 10% increase in cremation charges, and a 2.5% increase in Books of Remembrance charges and memorial cards charges. The proposed increase would take effect from 1 January 2012.
Reason(s) for decision: As outlined in the attached report, cremation costs have risen significantly over the last year. The proposed increase in charges reflects that increase in costs and brings Jersey’s charges in line with other comparable jurisdictions. The proposed 10% increase is over and above Treasury limits and hence the Minister requests Treasury approval.
Resource Implications: Charges for cremation will increase by 10% from 1 January 2012. Books of Remembrance charges will increase by 2.5% from 1 Jan 2012.
Action required: To request the Treasurer of the States to approve the amended fees as set out in the attached schedule On receipt of that approval, to instruct the Law Draftsman to prepare the necessary Order.
Signature:		Position: Minister for Health and Social Services
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Crematorium: Proposed Charges for 2012

STATES OF JERSEY

HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

Community and Social Services

Crematorium - Proposed Charges for 2012

1 Background

1.3 The Crematorium charges for 2011 were approved by Ministerial Decision ref. MD-HSS-2009-0064 (copy attached Appendix A).

1.4 From 1st January 2011 the charges were increased by 2.1% to reflect the RPI.

2 Present

2.3 The Minister is now required to approve charges for 2012 for an Order to be drafted under the ‘Cremation (Jersey) Law 1953’.

2.4 Any increase in charges of more than 2.5% per annum requires the approval of the Minister of Treasury and Resources under Codes of Directions No. 24.

2.5 Due to the increase in the cost of gas of 17% this year and the cost of living increase of 2.5% it is recommended an increase of 10% is added to the present cremation charges for next year. Remembrance fees will be increased by 2.5%.

2.6 The increase in cremation fees has been approved by the Treasury Minister as it exceeds 2.5%.

2.7 We are also looking at the feasibility of making CSR savings by introducing further efficiencies.

2.8 A comparison between charges made by Crematoria across the UK has been made which demonstrates Jersey in the ‘Crematorium Fee League Table’ is 122nd out of 261 published charges in 2011, with the highest charge being £700.00 (Dundee). Our most comparable Crematoria is Douglas, the Isle of Man, who carried out 557 cremations during 2010 whist we carried out 559 during the same period. The Isle of Man charge is £625.50 (see appendix)

2.9 It is therefore recommended that cremation charges are increased from £546.00 to £600.00, an increase of 10%.

2.10 Consultation has taken place within the department of Health and Social Services but not with any external agencies.

3 Recommendations

3.1 Cremation fees:

The Minister is recommended to approve the fees as set out below, prescribed by Order made by the Minister for Health and Social Services under the provision of the Crematorium (Jersey) Law 1953.

		Fee 20010 (£)	Current fee 2011 (£)	Proposed fee 2012 (£)
a)	For the cremation of remains of a person aged seventeen years or less at death.	0.00	0.00	0.00
b)	For the cremation of remains of a person aged eighteen years or more at death.	535.00	546.00	600.00

The Minister is recommended to request the Law Draftsman to arrange for the preparation of the necessary legislation to give effect to the variation in the fees from 1st January 2012.

3.2 Books of Remembrance and Memorial Cards:

The Minister is further recommended to approve the following charges for the Book of Remembrance and Memorial Cards which have been increased by 2.5% rounded up to the nearest 5p: -

Book of Remembrance
	2010 (£)	Current 2011 (£)	Proposed 2012 (£)
Two line entry (minimum) + gold initial	32.50	33.20	34.05
Five line entry + gold initial	47.00	48.00	49.20
Eight line entry + gold initial	63.50	65.00	66.65

Miniature Book of Remembrance (Leather bound plus box)
	2010 (£)	Current 2011 (£)	Proposed 2012 (£)
Two line entry + gold initial	56.00	57.20	58.65
Five line entry + gold initial	67.00	68.50	70.20
Eight line entry + gold initial	77.00	78.65	80.60

Memorial Card
	2010 (£)	Current 2011 (£)	Proposed 2012 (£)
Two line entry + gold initial	15.60	15.95	16.35
Five line entry + gold initial	25.50	26.00	26.70
Eight line entry + gold initial	37.00	37.80	38.75

Floral illustrations	40.30	40.30	41.30
High rate illustration	56.00	56.00	57.40
Personal photograph	37.00	37.00	37.95

Mr Ian Dyer

Service Director Older People

22nd December 2011