Proposed Crematorium Charges for 2008.

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A decision made (24/10/2007) regarding: Proposed Crematorium Charges for 2008.

Subject:	Proposed Crematorium Charges for 2008
Decision Reference:	MD-HSS-2007-0070	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 2008
Name of Author:	Mike Le Fevre, Director of Estates and Hotel Services
Date of Report:	12th October 2007			Report File ref:
Decision(s): To agree to the increase in cremation fees and Book of Remembrance and memorial card charges for 2008, 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) An Order made under the ‘Cremation (Jersey) Law 1953’ needs to be drafted and made by the Minister to reflect the proposed increased 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 Draftsman to prepare an Order under 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 charges once the Order has been made by the Minister.
Signature:			Date of Decision:

Proposed Crematorium Charges for 2008.

STATES OF JERSEY

HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

Estates Management and Hotel Services

Crematorium - Proposed Charges for 2008

1. Background

The previous Health and Social Services Ministerial Decision dated 18th October 2006, copy attached (Appendix A), approved the Crematorium charges for 2007.

The previous Minister and 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.

The annual 10% increase was supported by the Minister for Treasury and Resources last year and previously by the Finance and Economics Committee.

2. Present

The Minister is now required to approve charges for 2008 for an Order under the ‘Cremation (Jersey) Law 1953’ to be drafted.

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.

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, £21,178 in 2006, and £11,624 from January to September 2007.

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

A comparison between charges made by Crematoria across the UK has been made which demonstrates Jersey, in the ‘Crematorium Fee League Table’, is 248th out of 250 published charges. Jersey has moved to third from bottom, compared to fourth from bottom last year, despite last years 10% increases (see Appendix C).

In line with last year it is proposed cremation charges rise by 10% in 2008 and that the cremation fee for persons 17 years old or younger should remain free of charge.

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3. Recommendations

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 2006 (£)	Current fee 2007 (£)	Proposed fee 2008 (£)
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.	238.00	262.00	288.00

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 2008.

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
	2006 (£)	Current 2007 (£)	Proposed 2008 (£)
Two line entry (minimum) + gold initial	22.20	24.40	26.80
Five line entry + gold initial	32.10	35.30	38.80
Eight line entry + gold initial	41.50	45.70	52.50

Miniature Book of Remembrance (Leather bound plus box)
	2006 (£)	Current 2007 (£)	Proposed 2008 (£)
Two line entry + gold initial	38.30	42.10	46.30
Five line entry + gold initial	45.90	50.50	55.50
Eight line entry + gold initial	52.60	57.90	63.70

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Memorial Card
	2006 (£)	Current 2007 (£)	Proposed 2008 (£)
Two line entry + gold initial	10.60	11.70	12.90
Five line entry + gold initial	17.30	19.00	21.00
Eight line entry + gold initial	25.30	27.80	30.60

Floral illustrations	27.50	30.30	33.30
High rate illustration	38.40	42.20	46.40
Personal photograph	25.30	27.80	30.60

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

12th October 2007