A rise in burial charges across Perthshire has been branded a “tax on the dead” by a Labour councillor.
Perth and Kinross Council is considering increasing fees for interments, cremations and memorial plaques.
The local authority has the sixth highest burial charges in Scotland and the most expensive crematorium.
Yesterday members of the environment committee were asked to comment on the move which could be introduced in a review of service charges.
If approved, interment fees will rise from between 2.4% to 3% with payments for a casket burial rising from £891 to £918 and the cost of interring an adult going from £134 to £138.
The price of cremating an adult will jump from £649 to £670, it is proposed.
Labour councillor Callum Gillies called for the plan to be rejected. “Grieving families cannot afford these costs as they are and, in my personal opinion, this is quite scandalous,” he said,
“We are proposing a tax on the dead and I find it inappropriate. Effectively, at the worst times in their lives people are being asked for more money.”
Mr Gillies called for all bereavement service costs to remain as they are for at least another year.
Committee convener Alan Grant reminded members they had not been asked to approve the plans, but give feedback for future budget talks.
Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has warned the proposals would have many families struggling to afford funerals.
The group’s policy officer, Fraser Sutherland, said: “CAS are concerned at the large increases in burial and cremation costs across Scotland over the last few years. These have left some families now unable to cover even a simple funeral for their loved one.”
In his report to councillors, finance and resources manager Fraser Crofts said: “The average burial charges have increased on average by 10% across Scotland in 2015 when compared to 2014. Perth and Kinross Council’s increase was 3% for the same period and it is proposed to increase all charges by a further 3% for 2016/17.”
He added that cremation costs rose by 5% across Scotland in the same period.