Backgound
DCSF considers that governors should not be out of pocket and should be able to claim allowances for legitimate expenses incurred in carrying out their duties. The allowances paid should relate to actual costs incurred, apart from mileage costs where any payment should not exceed authorised Inland Revenue mileage allowances. However, attendance allowance and payments for loss of earnings may not be paid.

Allowances may be paid to governors and associate members of governing bodies by the governing bodies of maintained schools which have delegated budgets. The local authority (LA) may pay allowances to governors of a maintained school which does not have a delegated budget and to persons appointed to represent the LA at an institution providing higher or further education, or on the governing body of an independent school or non-maintained special school.

Travel expenses must be paid at a rate not exceeding the maximum level of the Inland Revenue authorised mileage rate. Other governors' expenses must be paid on provision of a receipt at a rate determined by the governing body, and will be limited to the amount shown on the receipt.

Guidance
Paying Allowances to School Governors (From September 2003), was sent to COGs, Diocese and LAs in May 2003 and was revised in August 2003 due to two minor amendments and again in October 2003 when minor changes were made to the document with regard to the payment of authorised mileage rates.  This leaflet can be downloaded by clicking on the attachment below or can be ordered from the team dealing with allowances: email: [email protected] or phone 01325 391290.

The link to Inland Revenue mileage rates (see 'Web links' below) provides information on current Inland Revenue mileage rates for private use of cars.

Good practice
The National Governors Council (NGC) has produced the Good Practice Guide in Developing an Allowances Policy for Governing Bodies 2005. This document contains recommendations from the NGC as well as a model allowances policy.

The law
The Education (Governors' Allowances)(England) Regulations 2003 were laid before Parliament on 12 March 2003 and came into force on 1 September 2003, revoking the Education (Governors' Allowances)(England) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/0703) from that date. Follow the link in 'Web links' below to view these regulations.