Residents in the Midlands are facing higher costs for essential council services, from dealing with pests to arranging funerals, as Dudley Council prepares to sign off on its annual budget.
Cabinet to Debate Widespread Price Hikes
Councillors in Dudley are set to debate a series of increases to fees and charges that are projected to generate an additional £2.5 million for the local authority in the 2026/27 financial year. The council's cabinet will discuss the proposals at a meeting on January 14, 2026, as part of the process to finalise spending plans.
A report prepared for the cabinet by Lisa Kitto, Dudley's interim director of finance, states that an annual rise in fees helps protect the income needed to deliver services and reduces pressure on council tax increases to balance the books. Most of the proposed hikes are pegged at around 3.8 percent, in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate from September.
Key Services Getting More Expensive
The budget outlines new rates for a wide range of everyday services. For homeowners troubled by pests, the costs are set to rise significantly.
A one-off treatment for bed bugs, cockroaches, or cat and dog fleas will increase to £171.27. The price for a first treatment of a wasp's nest or a series of three visits to tackle rodents will be £88.23.
End-of-life services are also included in the increases. The cost of an adult cremation will rise from £1,025 to £1,064. Scattering ashes on a grave will go up by £3.80 to £103.80. The most expensive burial option in the borough, in a bricked grave, is set for a £104.90 increase, taking the total cost to £2,864.90.
Housing, Leisure and Laundry Also Affected
Some of the steepest rises are found within housing services. Charges for renting a council garage, garden maintenance fees, and site fees for travellers are all facing increases of nearly five percent.
Users of council laundry facilities will see a sharp jump, with the price of a wash or dry laundry token rising by 6.9 percent to £4.50. In contrast, leisure centre users will see a more modest change, with an annual standard membership earmarked to rise by two percent to £403.90.
The authority expects to generate £65.5 million from fees and charges in the current financial year. The proposed increases are designed to bolster this income stream further. The final decision on Dudley's full spending plan will be made by all councillors at a full council meeting on February 23, 2026.
