REDDITCH people may see the cost of some council-run services rise by up to 20 per cent in line with changes to fees and charges.
This comes after last week’s executive meeting at the Town Hall.
With items including cremation and burial costs, housing services, leisure services and refuse collection all affected, a lengthy discussion was held between councillors and officers, clarifying the reasons behind the changes.
Questions were raised, with complaints from some councillors that the increases were simply too high and ‘’not acceptable’’.
Highlighted were increases in charges of between 3.8 per cent and 8.08 per cent for some cremation services, and a rise of 22 per cent for organists fees at funeral services.
However, council chiefs justified the largest increases to certain services – including additional music options for funerals and cremations – by saying they were simply passing on cost increases by the suppliers.
Council leader Coun Bill Hartnett said: “On average, costs for our services are increasing by around 3.8 per cent. Some will not increase by this much and many will not increase at all. Those with increases of 20 per cent and 22 per cent are cases where our suppliers have increased their charges.”
The increases were agreed by all but two councillors.
