New guidelines for Council expenses claims
New guidelines are to be put in place for Council members claiming expenses.
This follows a report by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s internal
auditors on behalf of the Audit Committee.
The report recommends that greater clarity and transparency should be built into
expense claim procedures. Changes include: new guidance on claims procedures
to reduce ambiguity and assist the finance department; clarification on claiming
attendance allowances and the circumstances in which travel and preparation time
can be taken into account; and clarification on policies on rail travel, car
usage and evening meal allowances. Changes also include the development of a
system of warnings for non-compliance with guidance for use of credit cards and
for non-production of supporting documentation.
Phillida Entwistle, chairman of the Audit Committee, said: “The committee’s
view was that the audit of Council expenses carried out by the internal auditors
PKF highlighted problems that are not related to fraud or deliberate or wilful
abuse of expenses. The issues are to do with errors created by a lack of clarity
around the guidelines provided. The committee supports the principle that council
members will behave properly, and that some flexibility is required in application
of the expenses policy within the guidance issued.”
A copy of the full report is available from the Society’s website.
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