THE decision to increase crematorium and burial fees has been slammed as ‘taxing the dead’.

Cllr Gordon Birtwistle, leader of the liberal democrats on Burnley Council, criticised the leadership’s budget proposals to increase the fees by 25 per cent over a three-year period at a full council meeting this week.

The cuts are part of the council’s aim to save £4million by 2020.

The increases would see a gain of £100,000 in 2017/18, £108,000 by 2018/19 and £117,000 by 2019/20, a total of £325,000 for the council.

The total savings would accumulate to £2.166million, councillors have said.

At the meeting, Cllr Birtwistle said the council makes a 50 per cent profit from burials and cremations, which is already ‘too high’.

He said: “We charge £2,054 to bury someone in Burnley it is already a very high amount.

“After looking at other councils, Hyndburn charges £1,500 to bury their dead, why do we charge so much more?

“It’s a tax on the dead, it’s far too much money and it’s not something we should be doing.

“It’s outrageous, we are ripping the dead off and extorting money.”

Mr Birtwistle said the council receives £992,000 a year from the cemetery and has gained £435,000, which is almost 50 per cent.

The increase follows a reduction in mayoral allowance of £3,000 by 2017/18 and introducing a chargeable green waste service.

Cllr Wajid Khan, executive member for resources and performance management for the council, said: “It has been very difficult to cut the money away from different services.

“We have had to find just over £2.1million and it’s been a very difficult job.

“We have developed a plan for creating a sustainable future which means we will continue to deliver on the main priorities for the borough.

“These include working for economic prosperity, creating jobs and that residents will continue to receive the services they expect.

“There is still a lot of work to do to balance the budget over the three year period and we will continue to consider the saving options.

“Burnley has not been treated fairly in the financial settlements for local councils which national government has put in place since 2010.

“We will continue to argue loud and clear for fairer funding for councils like ours.”