Croydon Council plans to raise fees for burials, bowls, and parking permits, sparking debate among local residents and officials.
Croydon: So, the council’s decided to hike up the costs for burials, bowls, and parking permits. They’re doing this as part of their yearly review of fees and charges.
Apparently, these increases are pretty steep compared to other fees, and some councillors are raising eyebrows about it. Next year, if you live in Croydon, expect to pay 10% more for parking permits and over 11% more for certain burials at one of the big cemeteries.
Mayor Jason Perry thinks these hikes are fair, but not everyone agrees. Some locals are calling it just another way for the council to grab more cash.
This news came out during a cabinet meeting where they went over the annual fees and charges. It’s a routine thing, but this time, the increases stood out.
The council looks at all sorts of services they provide, from recycling bins to wedding ceremonies, and usually, some fees go up each year due to inflation and market pressures.
After a review for the 2024/25 fees, they found quite a few increases across the board. The Labour opposition questioned these hikes, and it turns out they’ll bring in an extra million pounds for the council.
Councillor Jason Cummings defended the increases, saying they’re just normal adjustments due to inflation. But Carlton Young, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, pointed out that some fees are rising way more than the usual 2.3%.
For instance, the cost for reclaimed burial rights at Croydon’s cemeteries jumped significantly. And if you’re into bowling, the hourly rate for casual play has also gone up, especially for juniors and seniors.
Young even asked the Mayor what he thinks the reaction will be from residents who just want a decent burial or a game of bowls. Mayor Perry responded that while some costs are going up due to inflation, others are based on market conditions.
Croydon’s finance lead backed him up, saying it’s all about recovering costs to keep services running. But the opposition isn’t buying it, claiming these increases are unfair and will hurt residents.
Labour’s Leader of the Opposition, Stuart King, criticized the Mayor for overspending and raising fees instead of managing the budget better. He’s not happy about the over 340 charges going up more than inflation, calling it another tax grab.