In addition to the “summit dinners”, the Chamber of Auditors noted in its report on the communication of the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Region, among the expenses charged to the “Advertising, publications, public relations” account, catering costs for the president of the regional council significantly increased in 2022 to €77,180.
In 2023, catering costs for the president of the Region amounted to €45,988. Among these expenses, a significant part relates to lunches and dinners in Paris, most often in premises in the Paris region. Depending on the region, these amounts were €41,459 in 2022, and €28,261 in 2023. Some of these expenses relate to small receptions. To the costs of these meals is added the rental of the reception room within these premises, to the tune of €18,000 per year. The report from the Chamber of Auditors emphasizes that for none of these trips and mini-receptions in Paris, “ the president of the Regional Council has not obtained a special mandate from the regional council, as the regulations require. »
Executive travel
Dinners with entrepreneurs
In addition to Parisian business meals, the Region organizes so-called “economic” dinners bringing together entrepreneurs from the region and the president of the community. The latter was not able to identify them specifically, arguing for the lack of specificity of these meals which are nevertheless well followed by regional services under this name.
For none of these trips and mini-receptions in Paris, the president of the regional council obtained a special mandate from the regional council, as the regulations require.
Payment mandates without supporting documents
The report of the Chamber of Auditors also notes that payment mandates provided to the public accountant who “pays” the expenses, are not accompanied by sufficient supporting documents, in the absence of the purpose of the meals and the list of guests. However, mentioning the purpose of the food expenses and the list of guests on the supporting documents for the expense appears essential for several reasons.
On the one hand, the absence of these documents makes it impossible to presume the public interest in the expenditure. On the other hand, these elements are required by the URSSAF in order to qualify the meal as “professional” and not have it seen as an advantage in
nature. Finally, the public accountant must have this information in order to verify the exact allocation of the expense.
Examples:
For mandate n°64744 of €6,636 (“WORK MEAL PDT ON 09/11/2022”), the supporting document indicates 9 place settings for lunch and 10 place settings in the evening;
For mandate n°63604 of €6,036 (“LUNCH AND BUSINESS DINNER PDT MR WAUQUIEZ ON OCT 18 AND 19, 2022”, the supporting document indicates 16 seats for lunch, 2 seats for the evening;
For mandate n°57126 of €1,290 (WORK MEAL PDT MR WAUQUIEZ ON OCT 10, 2022), the supporting document indicates 2 place settings for lunch, 3 place settings in the evening.
