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An expense too far?

An expense too far?

11 July 2013

Can governors claim expenses and to what extent? Following a recent BBC article revealing that a chair of a governing body claimed £236 for his commute from his home in Menorca to his school in Lewisham, you may think there is no limit to what governors can claim!

Paying governors is illegal, although legitimate expenses such as photocopying costs and travel expenses can be claimed in line with the school/academy’s policy, as long as they are evidenced by a receipt. Once a governing body decide to pay a particular expense, this applies to all governors - therefore if transport from the next village for one governor is reimbursed then transport from another country for another governor should be reimbursed.

Reimbursing the £236 commute may be in line with the school’s policy and within the law, but perhaps governing bodies should take a view as to the effectiveness of electing chairs who live far away.

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Lauren Jeffrey

Associate

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