SOUTHEND Council is spending over the odds on public health funerals, but families of the deceased are well cared for afterwards.

New research shows that the council is spending £2,062 on average on so-called pauper’s funerals, a cremation or burial in a public grave, which is well above the national average of £1,507.

Research by insurance company Royal London shows that Southend Council spent £39,184 on 19 public health funerals from 2018 to 2019, according to information obtained through a Freedom of Information request.

However, despite the high cost of pauper’s funerals in Southend, families of the deceased are significantly better treated than in other areas in the UK.

The research shows that some councils around the UK do not return ashes after a public health funeral, while some charge families to have them returned.

It also shows that some councils do not allow family to attend pauper’s funerals.

Southend Council are not on any of these lists.

The councils who explained why they charge stated that reasons included the cost of the urn, or a collection cost.

Charges usually range from between £10 and £18.

Royal London stated that a lack of minimum standards means that some grieving relatives are being treated unfairly, but this is not the case in Southend.

Louise Eaton-Terry, a funeral cost expert at the firm, said it is “incredibly sad” when bereaved families are forced to seek a public health funeral.

She said: “When some families are refused the ashes of their loved ones or are not even allowed to attend the funeral, it is clear that they are being treated unfairly.

“It’s about time the system was overhauled, and we’re calling for legislation on minimum standards for public health funerals to ensure everyone can, at the very least, attend a funeral and collect their loved one’s ashes.”

A spokeswoman from the Ministry of Justice, who are responsible for burials and cremations, stated that they are aware of concerns surrounding the different funeral services councils offer.

Southend Council was contacted for a statement, to address the high costs.