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Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Nvz) Grant Scheme
ANNEX 1: WHAT IS ELIGIBLE FOR GRANT?
The provision, replacement or improvement of:
above and below ground storage tanks or chambers for slurry, including safety covers;
slurry storage compounds, e.g. sleeper compounds, earth walled compounds or lagoons;
under-floor slurry storage systems, including tanks, manholes and safety covers situated out side the building. Slats or other floor constructions inside or outside a building are not eligible for grant;
manure stores (these should have retaining walls along at least two sides and include provisions for collecting liquid seepage to prevent pollution);
slurry reception pits;
slurry separators and associated fixed pumps and pipework;
fixed transfer and disposal facilities, e.g. slurry channels and permanently fixed pipework and pumps, including small structures to protect the pump;
facilities for storing silage effluent;
channels and pipework to drain effluent from existing silage stores;
clean and foul water drainage systems, including guttering and downpipes (but excluding roofing),
as long as these items reduce the need to store slurry. (Your FWMP must demonstrate that these measures will reduce the amount of slurry storage needed.); and
any capital contributions (but not annual charges) required by a local authority for the connection of agricultural buildings (excluding all dwellings) to a main sewer.
Slurry means:
a. excreta produced by livestock whilst in a yard or building; or
b. a mixture consisting wholly or mainly of such excreta, bedding, rainwater and washings from a building or yard used by livestock or any combination of these, of a consistency that allows it to be pumped or discharged by gravity at any stage in the handling process.
NOTE: All slurry and silage effluent storage facilities must comply with the Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (Scotland) Regulations 2003 and meet with the approval of SEPA before they are brought into use.
ANCILLARY ITEMS
The following items are eligible only if they are an integral part of a relevant storage facility, which is itself grant-aided:
access ramps and aprons. However, yards and roads are not eligible for grant;
safety fencing;
the provision of dedicated new electrical wiring to the livestock slurry, animal manure or silage effluent storage facility from the mains distribution board; or
the provision, alteration or uprating of an electricity supply between the grid supply and the farm,
provided that the supply is necessary to secure the full benefit of the storage facility. (You will be asked on the application form to explain how this item is necessary to secure the full benefit of the investment for which you are applying for grant.)
OTHER ELIGIBLE ITEMS
Conservation work
Grant may be awarded to cover the cost of any conservation or amenity work you plan to undertake in connection with your farm waste facility, e.g. you may wish to landscape a newslurry store by planting trees.
Fees
The fees of a consultant, solicitor, suitably qualified architect, engineer or surveyor, whom you employ to advise you or supervise your eligible work, may qualify for grant provided they are:
reasonable for the service given; and
relate directly to the carrying out of your eligible work. For example, lawyer's fees for the preparation of easements and wayleaves may be eligible for grant, but general legal fees, accountant's fees or charges made for helping you to claim grant would be ineligible.
Any costs or charges incurred in fulfilling legal requirements in carrying out the works - like building warrants under the Building Regulations, fees for planning permission, the cost of obtaining wayleave and easements, etc. - are all eligible for grant.
Second-hand materials
You may use sound second-hand materials in your building work providing they will meet the required design life set by any relevant Regulations. Home-produced materials may be claimed at 85% of the current market price and ex-stock materials for which you no longer have receipts at 40% of the market price.
Regular and casual labour
Grant may be payable for the cost of your own regular labour force or your own casual employees if they have carried out the work. However, time you spend yourself (including supervision) is
not normally eligible for grant. An exception is if you are an employee of a limited company and it is the company that is making the claim or your claim is based on Standard Costs.
Standard Costs
Standard Costs are fixed unit costs for certain works carried out to specific standards. Information on the range of works for which they are available, and the requirements which will have to be met in using them, are available from your local SEERAD Area Office. You do not have to submit any vouchers or time sheets in support of a claim.
Where work is being carried out on a standard cost basis you must normally use new materials. The only exception is previously used brick or stone that may be used for hardcore. If you wish to use any other previously used or second-hand materials you must claim on the basis of actual costs.
Own machinery
If you use your own machinery, you may apply for financial assistance on the basis of standard rates laid down by SEERAD. Details are contained in a schedule that can be obtained from your local SEERAD Area Office. The rates take account of fuel, oil, repairs and depreciation. Where the schedule does not contain rates appropriate to the particular item of machinery or equipment, contact your local SEERAD Area Office to discuss the matter. You must record on a timesheet the dates and hours the machinery/equipment is used. The cost of the driver/operator's time should be included under labour costs.
Deferred payments and hire purchase
You may be paying for your work on deferred payment terms. If so, the grant will be paid on the cash price and not the sum of the installments and only when you can show legal entitlement to the item. You will have to send with your claim:
the agreement (or a certified copy) showing the full cost of the items less financing and arrangement charges; and
clear proof of the transfer of ownership to you: this may be either in the agreement itself or in a written statement from the finance company; or
if you are buying under a hire purchase agreement, grant cannot be paid until you send us proof that you have met the last installment (such as a certificate from a finance company).
Grant is not available for items held on a leasing agreement.
Insurance payments
You may normally apply for grant on the cost of replacing or renewing a damaged facility. But if the damage was caused by a risk normally covered by insurance, your application should cover only the difference between the insurance payment and the overall cost. If the facility was not insured or under insured we will work out the net cost by deducting its value before the damage occurred.
VAT
Your claim should not include VAT unless you are not registered for VAT and will not be able to reclaim VAT from your costs. You should explain this to SEERAD. They will need a declaration from you that you are not registered and if you provide the declaration they will normally arrange payment on a VAT-inclusive basis.
WHAT IS NOT ELIGIBLE
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