Decision details

At the beginning of the 2019-20 financial year, fees and charges for funerals for children under the age of 18 years were removed, this followed a decision at the meeting of Council on 6 December 2018. On 23 July 2019, the Children’s Funeral Fund was set up by the Government. The report proposes the reintroduction of fees to be claimed directly by the Council from the Children’s Funeral Fund.

Cabinet approved the reintroduction of cremation and burial fees for those under the age of 18 solely on the basis that reimbursement of these fees can be reclaimed from the Government via the Children’s Funeral Fund.

Thanet District Council waived all fees for those under the age of 18 years from 1^st April 2019, this means that the actual cost had to be funded by the Council. With the official fund now in place the decision to reclaim fees from the Government was made to remove the associated budgetary impact.

The alternative option was to continue with the current fees and charges arrangements i.e. that no charges are made for cremations and burials for those under the age of 18. This option was rejected in favour of reclaiming fees via the Government funding scheme in the interests of supporting the Bereavement Service.

Note: Under no circumstance will there be a payment required by the bereaved family for cremation or burial. The fees are claimed directly by the Council from the Government fund.