The days when Basildon was the cheapest place to park your car or rid your house of fleas may soon be over.

The price of being buried is also set to increase as part of a package to balance the books. Councillors were due to decide last night on higher charges after considering an officers' report.

Pest control services are free now - the environmental health service dealt with 413 mouse and 675 flea infestations in the past 12 months.

Advice on non-public health pests, such as ants and wood-lice was also given free over the phone.

The report recommended a call-out charge, but suggests dealing with rats, bed-bugs and cockroaches should still be free for householders. Income Support claimants will still get it free.

Castle Point and Southend councils both charge more than £25 to rid homes of mice, fleas or other pests. Basildon also offers the cheapest burial services. A plot costs £144 in Basildon, compared to £420 in Havering and £374 in Southend.

The report comparing Basildon's charges with neighbouring authorities was requested when councillors faced a £1.7 million deficit.

This is being reduced through charges, cutbacks such as the closure of an office and the restructuring of top management.

Even so, the council still needs to save a further £1 million.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.