I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the burial fees and policies of your council. Specifically, I am seeking details on the charges applied to residents versus non-residents and the income generated from these services. Please provide the following information:

1. Burial Fees and Surcharges
• Does the council currently apply a surcharge or increased fee for the burial of individuals who lived outside the borough/council at the time of their death: Yes.
• If yes, what is the current 'Resident' fee vs. the 'Non-Resident' fee for:
o A standard adult interment (burial): The resident adult interment fee is currently £754. The non-resident adult interment fee is currently £2262. The non-resident adult interment fee is three times the resident interment fee.
• The purchase of the 'Exclusive Right of Burial' (the lease for the plot): The current costs for ‘Exclusive Rights of Burial’ for a full adult grave plot vary depending on number of years purchased. We also offer ‘Exclusive Right of Burial’ on ashes plots measuring 2’ x 2’. Please see costs outlined below based on number of years and type of plot. I have provided costs below for adults.
Exclusive Right of Burial – 100 years standard grave plot - £2263 (adult resident), £6789 (adult non-resident)
Exclusive Right of Burial – 75 years full standard grave plot - £1697 (adult resident), £5091 (adult non-resident)
Exclusive Right of Burial – 50 years full standard grave plot - £1191 (adult resident), £3573 (adult non-resident)
Exclusive Right of Burial – 100 years cremated remains grave plot (2’ x’2’) - £719 (adult resident), £2157(adult non-resident)
Exclusive Right of Burial – 75 years cremated remains grave plot (2’ x’2’) - £539 (adult resident), £1617 (adult non-resident)
Exclusive Right of Burial – 50 years cremated remains grave plot (2’ x’2’) - £379 (adult resident), £1137 (adult non-resident)
Exclusive Right of Burial – 25 years cremated remains grave plot (2’ x’2’) - £218 (adult resident), £654 (adult non-resident)

• What is the specific criteria used to define a 'Non-Resident' (e.g., number of years lived outside the borough): A’ Non-Resident’ is defined by the postal home address of the deceased. The deceased needs to have had their final home address within the Borough of Wokingham. An exception is if the deceased lived in a care home or nursing home outside the Borough but their previous last home address (before needing care in a residential home) was within the Borough, they will be charged Resident Rates.

2. Financial Data For the most recent completed financial years (2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25), please provide:
• The total gross income received by the council from all burial and cemetery-related payments.
• The total income specifically generated from the non-resident surcharge (i.e., the 'extra' amount paid by non-residents above the standard resident rate).
• If the specific surcharge income is not tracked as a separate line item, please provide the total number of non-resident burials conducted in the same financial year.
Please find attached.

3. Policy and Rationale
• Please provide the date when the current non-resident fee structure was brought in.
The Non-Resident surcharge of triple fees has been in place since at least 2006.