Red faces over Sheffield Council grave size rule that was wide of the mark

A meeting of Sheffield City Council’s communities, parks and leisure policy committee (September 27) heard that a report on amendments to bereavement fees that they agreed in March included the introduction of a new charge for coffins over 600mm and up to 760mm in width.

Ellie Fraser, council head of bereavement and coronial services, said that a misprint in the committee report referred to 7,600 millimetres.

Fortunately, the mistake was not repeated in council guidelines on bereavement fees.

Committee chair Coun Richard Williams said it was the most unusual correction he had dealt with.

Most fees were increased by four per cent on April 1. A burial now costs £2,430 and the cost of cremation is set at £1,013.

The direct to cremation fee dropped from £650 to £500 to be more in line with what is charged elsewhere and other specialist service fees were also adjusted.