Governors Allowances Policy

Background

The Education (Governors’ Allowances) Regulations 2003 give Governing Bodies the discretion to pay allowances, from the school’s annual budget allocation, to Governors for certain expenses which they incur in carrying out their duties. Queen Margaret Primary School Governing Body believes in paying governors allowances, in specific categories as set out below, is important in ensuring equality of opportunity to serve as governors for all members of the community and so is an appropriate use of school funds. The specific items allowable reflect this objective.

Aims

All Governors of Queen Margaret Primary School will be entitled to claim the actual costs, which they incur, as follows:

1. Governors are able to claim allowances providing the allowances are incurred in carrying out their duties, as a Governor or representative of Queen Margaret Primary School, and are agreed by the Full Governing Body that they are justified before any reimbursable costs are incurred.
2. Governors are able to claim for the following, on a case-by-case basis and with the prior approval of the Governing Body:

* Childcare or baby-sitting allowances (excluding payments to a current/former spouse or partner);

• Cost of care arrangements for an elderly or dependent relative (excluding payments to a current/former spouse or partner);
• The extra costs they incur in performing their duties either because they have special needs or because English is not their first language;
• The cost of travel relating only to travel to meetings/training courses at the Local Authority rate pence per mile.
• Travel and subsistence costs, payable at the current rates specified by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, associated with attending national meetings or training events, unless these costs can be claimed from the LA or any other source;
• Telephone charges, photocopying, stationery, postage etc;
• Any other justifiable allowances.

The Governing Body at Queen Margaret Primary School acknowledges that:

• Governors may not be paid attendance allowance;
• Governors may not be reimbursed for loss of earnings.

Governors wishing to make claims under these arrangements, once prior approval has been sought, should complete a claims form (obtainable from the Clerk to the Governors), attaching receipts, and return it to the School within two weeks of the date when the allowances were incurred, when they will be submitted for approval by the Chair of Governors for final approval.

Claims will be subject to independent audit and may be investigated by the Chair of Governors (or Vice Chair in respect of the Chair of Governors) if they appear excessive or inconsistent.