By Claire Racine

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and the Charity Finance Directors’ Group have set up an independent expert group on trustee and senior management expenses.

Chaired by Lindsay Driscoll, the group, working closely with the Charity Commission, will work to develop best practice on how voluntary and community organisations report trustees and senior management expenses in the wake of recent press coverage surrounding the issue.

“It is important that voluntary and community organisations get this right to maintain the high levels of public trust that exist in the sector,” said Driscoll, chair of the Independent Expert Group on Expenses.

Widespread consultation with voluntary and community sector organisations will take place, with everyone being given the opportunity to provide views through written submission over the next two months. T

he group will aim to publish guidance on the reporting of expenses in the next four months.

“Public trust and confidence are of paramount importance in the charity sector,” said Keith Hickey, CFDG CEO.

“It is therefore crucial that careful and detailed consideration is given to this issue so that we can give the best advice to organisations in the sector.”