A DECISION on charges for some memorial services at Worcester Crematorium has not yet been made - as councillors clashed over whether they should be free or not.

During the city council’s income generation subcommittee, councillors discussed a handful of new services, including video tributes and slideshows, introduced after a music system upgrade - but two in particular caused some contention.

A charge of £60 for a professional tribute of 25 photos set to music and a £15 charge for families who supply their own video tribute have already been introduced at Worcester Crematorium - services that were previously free.

Councillor Jo Hodges felt uncomfortable charging people for a service that had previously been free.

She said: “It will be that bereaved people who have had access to this service will now have to pay for it.

"It is something which I am not happy to be charging for when we have already provided this service and didn’t charge for it.

“I understand that this particular service needs to be paid for but I think it would be wrong to introduce charges when it is no extra charge to use.

Cllr Roger Knight disagreed. “We are charging less than the recommended retail price,” he said.

“I think a charge should be made. People should be charged for something that is an extra.”

The investment in new technology and upgraded software has influenced the decision to charge for the two previously free services.

Cllr Hodges said: “We are dealing with people during a very vulnerable time and I don’t think it is right. It is no extra cost to the council each time those two services are used. Purchasing the software is the only cost.”

Cllr James Stanley said: “I take Cllr Hodges's point that we are dealing with people during probably the worst period in their lives.

“However, I also see the logic in only doing what other authorities are doing. If we don’t accept it now it would still need to be addressed in the future.”

Cllr Pat Agar, chairman of the committee, said: “Clearly there are concerns over the two services. It is going to be a sensitive issue.

“Some of the public might feel like we are profiting from it. What I am seeing is that the costs need to be recovered in the right places.”