As a PC can I claim for a printer cartidge?

Question

I have been printing alot of items off  with regards to PC items. I asked if I was able to claim for a cartidge ( I have never claimed for anything before) What promted me is when I saw 2 cheques raised, one for the chairman and the other for another councillior. I asked the chair man and he came back and asked me for a record of everything I had printer! I basically told him where to go as I do a lot for our village and I felt my intergity was in question.

Answer 1

This is tricky!  In principle, councillors are able to reclaim out of pocket expenses.  Most town and parish councillors do not claim.

Where a claim is made, it is up to the council to decide whether a claim is reasonable, and this would often be delegated to the clerk.  In your case, the clerk may not be independent of the chairman.  Or a decision could be made by the council - it cannot be made by an individual councillor, or even a group of councillors not in a formal meeting.

Usually, such matters can be resolved with goodwill and common sense.  In your case that may be difficult.  There is no obvious way to resolve this.