THURROCK Council is planning to raise charges for its services to generate an extra £114,000 a year.

The proposed increaases are not unexpected in the light of the council's catastrophic position but they will move nearer reality in the coming days.

A financial report outlining services, which are set to rise from October 1 under a "mid year review", includes extra costs for planning applications, burials and cremations, marriages and civil ceremonies and residents parking permits.

Burials will rise from £930 to £990 and an interment of ashes will increase from £381 to £414.

Marriages and civil ceremonies are set to rise from £590 to £610.

Residents will see a charge for a third visitor parking permit rise from £15 to £75 and carers and community nurses will have to find and an extra 25.8 per cent for an NHS parking pass which will rise from £120 per year to £151.

Most of the services offered at the Thameside Theatre are facing a hike in charges including and 18.5 per cent increase in performance charges, up from £205 to £243.

The cash-strapped council, which is struggling to cope with a £1.5 billion debt from ill-judged investments, is currently under the management of Essex County Council commissioners.

Finance officers will instigate a phased review of income from council service beginning with the increase in current charges and proceeding to a comparison of charges with other councils with a view to bringing them in line with other authorities and looking at where new charges could be implemented.

This includes a review of visitor parking vouchers. Previously Thurrock gave the first 20 five-hour visitor vouchers free of charge, this would equate to 100 hours of free parking. The council proposes to scrap the free passes and charge the existing 45p per five hours fee to generate an additional £31,500.

The council currently has £7.462million due to be generated through the levying of fees and charges for council services.

However, it says on average Thurrock has less fees and charges than other councils with 1,099 compared to Basildon which has 1,209 chargeable services.

The report said: "The setting of appropriate fees and charges will enable the council to generate essential income for the funding of council services. The approval of reviewed fees and charges will also ensure that the council is competitive with other service providers and neighbouring councils. The ability to vary charges within financial year will enable services to more flexible adapt to changing economic conditions."

The cleaner, greener and safer overview and scrutiny committee is due to note the report on Tuesday, June 13.