Employees at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council have been told public funds should only be used to purchase alcohol in "exceptional circumstances" during the first review of the council's travel, subsistence and personal expenses policy since 2019.

The rules apply to all council employees including staff at schools and businesses and mean only the chief executive, deputy chief executive, and director can approve expenses for alcohol.

Under the policy, council staff are able to claim back money for work-related spending such as travel, meals, accommodation, personal expenses and even eye tests.

Elected councillors are not included in this policy and instead get a yearly basic allowance, with most councillors receiving £10,000 in 2021/22.

Special responsibility allowances are also granted under some circumstances. 

An amendment to the policy will also limit car travel and encourage more employees to use sustainable travel options. The shortest and most direct route possible is encouraged within the scheme. 

Council officer Helen Flinter said at a governance committee meeting on Thursday (September 29): "The policy was last reviewed back in 2019 and a lot has happened since then in terms of hybrid working, different ways of travel, and the green agenda. 

"Additional wording has been added with regards to public funds – that it should not be used to purchase alcohol. This is a point that has been strengthened and says any approvals of that nature would come from the chief executive, deputy chief executive or a director. Those would be exceptional cases.

"The purpose of this review is to incorporate those elements and to align better with other policies where expenses are related such as eye tests. There will be less focus on travelling by car and more on sustainable travel options where available."

Council documents also claim that a separate review of the drugs, alcohol and substance misuse policy is also being undertaken. Findings will be presented to the council towards the end of the year.