News 18th February 2008We have put together a list of Frequently Asked Questions About Final Claims to help projects get their final claim in by the deadline of 30th April 2008 22nd January 2008Event and Awards 2008We’re organising a Celebration Event on 18th March 2008 at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow. We hope you’ll be able to join us and we’re planning lots of activities and surprises to keep you entertained. As the Objective 3 awards have been so popular over the last few years we’ll be expanding them to include Equal and they will be presented at a Gala dinner on the evening of the event. For further information please click on the Celebration Event 2008 section on our website. 21st November 2007Programme and Project Closure Currently, there are still over 400 projects with activity due to end by 31 December 2007 and more than 600 still to formally close (by submitting their final claim). The PME has always been proactive in pursuing outstanding claims but now with a Programme Closure Timetable agreed between the Scottish Government and the European Commission there is no place to hide! The PME will be issuing reminders to all of these organisations regularly over the next couple of months, but ultimately we will be required to pass on details to the Scottish Government if claims are still not received or returned. We have discussed this matter with the Objective 3 Managing Authority (also the Managing Authority for the new ESF Programme) at length. They see non compliance in terms of claim submission as a real concern for the new programmes.
Some key dates in relation to claim submission are shown below and project sponsors are asked to note these dates and comments.
| Final Date for ESF Objective 3 activity | 31 December 2007 | | The Programme Monitoring Committee recently agreed that due to the Closure Timescale there will be no further extensions to project activity after 31st December 2007 however, in order to allow defrayal of costs after 31st December the end date can be changed. These extensions are likely to be no more than one month although a longer timescale may be agreed.
For the first time, costs directly related to the completion of Final Claims may also be allowed providing these can be covered within the existing grant still to be claimed. To allow this, the end date of the project can be changed but this can be no later than 30 April 2008.
Projects wishing to change current project end dates to allow either of the above must contact the PME asap to request this. | | Final Date for Submission of Final Claims to the PME | 30 April 2008 | |
Claims should normally be submitted no later than 3 months after the approved project end date and absolutely no later than 30 April 2008. The Scottish Government will be notified of all outstanding claims after this date.
| | Final Date for Submission of checked Final Claims from the PME to the Scottish Government | 31 August 2008 | | The PME will continue to check and process claims as and when they are received but project sponsors are asked to respond as quickly as possible and within the timescales requested to ensure that their claim is passed to the Scottish Government by this date. Correct claims received after this date may not be processed or paid. | 30th August 2007Final Claim External AuditsAlthough the requirement for final claim audit certification has been withdrawn, projects that previously would have required an audit, must have submitted transaction lists covering at least 50% of approved costs. Where this is not the case a transaction list covering the entire period of the project is required. Further details are provided in this letter Letter Re Audit & TL 30Aug or by contacting the PME .
3rd April 2007Final Claims Audit CertificatesPlease click here for a copy of a letter received today from the Scottish Executive regarding Final Claims Audit Certificates.
As you will see from the letter the requirement for final claim audit certification has been withdrawn with immediate effect. This follows on from discussion and agreement with Audit Scotland and we understand their auditors are already aware of this position. The requirement has been lifted on all claims received by the PME after 31 March 2007.
If you require any further information or clarification on this matter please do not hesitate to contact us.
24th August 2006
Retention of RecordsThe Verification and Compliance team have identified that some local authorities are not retaining BAC records which relate to ESF projects. We would like to remind all projects there must be a clear audit trail via BACs to the bank statement and that all project records must be retained until at least 2013. If records cannot be checked this may result in repayment of funds.
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