THE cost of dying is set to increase in Cornwall with plans to raise the costs of cremations.

Cornwall Council’s neighbourhoods overview and scrutiny committee is set to consider whether to increase the cost of cremations by £20 next year.

The increase would bring the cost of Cornwall Council’s only crematorium, Penmount, to £784.

However the committee will hear on Thursday that burial costs will be frozen.

Cremation and burial costs were increased in the last financial year in order to make the service cost-neutral.

A report going to the committee explains that the proposed increase in cremation costs would still mean that the council crematorium is the cheapest in Cornwall.

There are two other  crematoriums in Cornwall – the Westerleigh-run crematorium in Camborne charges £815 while the Dignity crematorium in Bodmin charges £999.

Burial fees in Cornwall Council-run cemetaries will remain the same at £1,492, which is lower than some local councils.

However the report indicates that cemeteries run by town and parish councils in Cornwall charge lower fees: Truro £650; Falmouth £675; Saltash £958; Bodmin £575; Bude-Stratton £346.50; Padstow £266.

The report states that there are no privately-run cemeteries in Cornwall and that while the Church of England does have some limited burial provision it states that in future it will not offer new burial spaces.

It adds: “Cornwall Council fees are more than those charged by other providers in Cornwall but are comparable or less than others across the South West.”

The council also says that although there had been complaints from monumental stone masons about the increase in burial costs previously implemented by the council there had been no complaints from members of the public.

It also states that the council provides welfare funerals for those in need and that this service will continue.

If agreed the new cremation charges would be brought in for the 2019/20 financial year starting in April.

The neighbourhoods overview and scrutiny committee will discuss the plans on Thursday (Dec 6) and will make a recommendation to the council’s Cabinet which will make the final decision.