Can you back date an expenses claim?

Question

If it is decided at full council that certain members can claim for items such as telephone calls and broadband useage, can they then claim for past expenses before it was agreed by the full council?

For example:
if the council agreed that a Mayor or Deputy Mayor could claim expenses for telphone usage for up to £50 per quarter:

1. Could the cllr making the claim back date it to May when it was only agreed in Oct/Nov.

2. Would they have to breakdown the costs of just be able to put in a claim for the full amount?

Answer 1

It would, I think, be unusual to agree to back date such a resolution beyond the commencement of the current financial year. This would be last April and the claim to which you refer is apparently back dated to May, and as such, does not seem to be unusual provided the council resolved that the measure should be so back dated.

Answer 2

Sorry. I never dealt with your second point. The detail of the claim required would be entirely at the discretion of the council. Some councils in any event grant an allowance to a chairman (usually The Mayor of a town council) to cover such expenses.