Questions asked of council boss' mileage claim

EYEBROWS have been raised at a mileage claim for £627.75 made by Dumfries and Galloway Council’s chief executive.

Dawn Roberts’ - above - claim covered the miles made in her own car during the 2024-25 year .

It is classed as ‘grey mileage’ as she is seeking reimbursement for using her personal vehicles for business purpose.

However, questions are being asked about whether that goes against the council’s own policies, which state staff should use fleet vehicles wherever possible and only use their own cars in ‘exceptional circumstances’.

Trade union representatives have confirmed that several years ago workers were all told they had to use pool cars and grey mileage had all but stopped. And they questioned why the chief executive is exempt from those regulations, pointing out there are several fleet vehicles parked right outside council headquarters where she has her office.

Meanwhile, former Annandale councillor Adam Wilson also wants answers.

He was one of the elected members involved in the transformation process, which included travel.

Adam, who was the then chair of the council’s finance, procurement and transformation committee at the time the policy was introduced, this week said: “Through a comprehensive transformation programme during the last council, it was identified that the council could cut costs and carbon emissions by reducing travel by council officers.

“A new policy was introduced and this ensured that the use of personal vehicles was only in exceptional circumstances to meet these aims.”

“It appears from the council’s unaudited accounts that the chief executive is not following the policy agreed by elected members.”

“Questions need to be asked on whether she has had this mileage approved by the council leader and if not, why is it one rule for the chief executive and another rule for the thousands of council staff across the region following the policy agreed by councillors.”

Responding to the issue, a council spokesperson yesterday said: “We can confirm that our chief executive claimed mileage expenses of £627.75 in the financial year 2024/25.

“Our fleet management policy allows use of a private car in exceptional circumstances. In this instance, the chief executive had work trips to multiple locations – across Scotland – where using a pool car wasn’t practical due to specific locations and time constraints. As per organisational policy, home-to-office distance was deducted in all cases.

“These expenses were claimed in accordance with employee terms and conditions. Mileage expenses are an operational matter and do not involve the council leader.

“Dumfries and Galloway Council remains firmly committed to using pool vehicles wherever possible and keeping private car mileage to an absolute minimum.”

Last week we reported that Ms Roberts is set to get a controversial 13 per cent pay rise, taking her annual salary up to £200,143, more than either the Prime Minister or the First Minister.