Proposed Crematorium Charges for 2007.

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A decision made (19/10/2006) regarding Proposed Crematorium Charges for 2007.

Subject:	Proposed Crematorium Charges for 2007
Decision Reference:	MD-HSS-2006-0053	Exempt clause(s):			None
Type of Report: (oral (O) or written (W))	Written
Telephone or email meeting?		Person giving report (if oral):
Written Report title:	Crematorium – Proposed Charges for 2007
Name of Author:	Mike Le Fevre, Director of Estates and Hotel Services
Date of Report:	18th October 2006			Report File ref:
Decision(s): To agree to the increase in cremation fees and Book of Remembrance and memorial card charges for 2007, subject to approval of the Minister for Treasury and Resources to increase fees and charges above inflation.
Reason(s) for decision: 1) To reduce the cost of the service to the Health and Social Services Department. 2) The ‘Cremation (Jersey) Law 1953’ needs to be amended to reflect the proposed fees.
Action required: 1) Seek approval from the Minister for Treasury and Resources to increase fees above the rate of inflation. 2) Request the Law Officers to amend the ‘Cremation (Jersey) Law 1953’ to reflect the proposed new charges. 3) Director of Estates and Hotel Services to advise the Island’s funeral directors of the new changes.
Signature:			Date of Decision: 19 October 2006

Proposed Crematorium Charges for 2007.

STATES OF JERSEY

HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

Estates Management and Hotel Services

Crematorium - Proposed Charges for 2007

1. Background

1.1 The Minister will recall the previous Health and Social Services Act No. A8 of 5th August 2005, copy attached (Appendix A), in which it approved the Crematorium charges for 2006.

1.2 The previous Committee’s policy has been to increase the cremation charges by 10% per year, until further notice, until such time as the cost of the service is matched by the income received.

1.3 The annual 10% increase has been supported by the previous Finance and Economics Committee.

2. Present

2.1 The Minister is now required to approve charges for 2007 in order that the ‘Cremation (Jersey) Law 1953’ is amended.

2.2 The Minister should be aware of Code of Directions No. 24 which requires Departments to justify and gain approval of the Finance and Economics Minister, any increase in charges of more than 2.5% per annum.

2.3 A cost report has been produced (Appendix B) which demonstrates the Crematorium Service run at a loss of £62,309 in 2004, £43,557 in 2005 and £16,037 from January to September in 2006.

2.4 Despite the rising price of gas the nett cost of the Crematorium service has reduced significantly and it is hoped that within three to four years the service will be cost neutral, providing the fees continue to be increased above inflation over that period.

2.5 A comparison between charges made by Crematoria across the UK has been made which demonstrates Jersey, in the ‘Crematorium Fee League Table’, is 246th out of 249 published charges. Jersey has moved to fourth from bottom, compared to fifth from bottom last year, despite last years 10% increases (see Appendix C).

2.6 In line with last year it is proposed cremation charges rise by 10% in 2007 and that the cremation fee for persons 17 years old or younger should remain free of charge.

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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 1985 (agreed 04.08.99).

		Fee 2005 (£)	Current fee 2006 (£)	Proposed fee 2007 (£)
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.	216.00	238.00	262.00

The Minister is recommended to seek the approval of the Minister for Finance and Economics to increase the above cremation fees by more than the 2.5% limit set in Code of Directions No 24.

Subject to approval by the Minister for Finance and Economics, 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 2007.

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 also been increased by 10%: -

Book of Remembrance
	2005 (£)	Current 2006 (£)	Proposed 2007 (£)
Two line entry (minimum) + gold initial	20.20	22.20	24.40
Five line entry + gold initial	29.20	32.10	35.30
Eight line entry + gold initial	37.70	41.50	45.70

Miniature Book of Remembrance (Leather bound plus box)
	2005 (£)	Current 2006 (£)	Proposed 2007 (£)
Two line entry + gold initial	34.80	38.30	42.10
Five line entry + gold initial	41.70	45.90	50.50
Eight line entry + gold initial	47.80	52.60	57.90

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Memorial Card
	2005 (£)	Current 2006 (£)	Proposed 2007 (£)
Two line entry + gold initial	9.60	10.60	11.70
Five line entry + gold initial	15.70	17.30	19.00
Eight line entry + gold initial	23.00	25.30	27.80

Floral illustrations	25.00	27.50	30.30
High rate illustration	34.90	38.40	42.20
Personal photograph	23.00	25.30	27.80

The Minister is recommended to seek the approval of the Minister for Finance and Economics to increase the above charges by more than the 2.5% limit set in Code of Directions No 24.

Mr M Le Fevre

Director of Estates

18th October 2006

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APPENDIX A:

APPENDIX B:

APPENDIX C (2 PAGES):