The purpose of the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) is to provide the necessary information in a format that will enable the authority and any public sector partners to assess the scope of the project and any investments in impacts and benefits.

In a multi-authority scheme a combined SOC should be considered, but in doing so the outline case must recognise the project’s overall impact as well as the impact and implications for the individual authorities. In particular, the SOC will need to ensure that it explains how the project links to the impact strategy.

A number of areas should be specifically addressed in the preparation of a SOC. These are:

SOC aims

• Strategic context
• Service need
• Formulation of options
• Affordability
• Timetable and deliverability

Five Cases in the SOC

• The Strategic Case
• The Economic Case
• The Commercial Case
• The Financial Case
• The Management Case

SOC aims

Strategic context

The local authority/authorities should set out their strategy for service provision and demonstrate how the proposed scheme matches this. It is important that the SOC considers not only the services to be dealt with in the project but also the wider impact of the project on the authority and other stakeholders, for example employees.

Proposals should have been discussed in outline with wider stakeholders.

Service need

The service need for the proposed scheme should be demonstrated by detailing the service issues that the scheme is intended to address.

Formulation of options

A shortlist of options that satisfy service need, match strategy and are affordable should be developed. If the analysis establishes a clear preference for a particular option, this should be identified.

Affordability

The affordability ceiling for a scheme should be defined and accepted by the local authority/authorities. Local authorities should take account of any changes in the local economy resulting from the scheme.

Timetable and deliverability

The proposed project timetable for awarding a contract should be set out. Important milestones that must be reached before a scheme can be formally advertised in the UK find a tender service include the completion of any necessary formal public consultation, and – where possible and appropriate – outline planning permission for any site likely to be developed.

Five Cases in the Strategic Outline Case

The Strategic Case

• the strategic context
• fit with service strategy and related projects, government policy imperatives, existing arrangements
• what is wrong with the status quo?
• drivers for change
• prospects for joint working
• key stakeholders
• desired service outcomes
• business need
• investment objectives
• scope

The Economic Case

• options for meeting the project objectives (including doing nothing)
• assessment criteria
• longlisting and shortlisting of options
• high-level options appraisal or value-for-money analysis
• high-level risk analysis
• recommended shortlist of options for more detailed assessment at a later stage (where feasible)

The Commercial Case

• assessment of the likely attractiveness of the project to suppliers
• assessment of whether the project is suitable for government funding
• assessment of potential for profit sharing
• nature of further work required to sound out the market and inform the procurement process

The Financial Case

• high-level affordability analysis
• ability and willingness of budget holders to meet the resource implications of the project statement of support from key stakeholders

The Management Case

• achievability and critical success factors
• project management arrangements
• risk management
• benefit realisation
• change management
• training strategy
• evaluation
• timetable
• key milestones
• nature of any further work required to inform development of the project and the resulting procurement
• resource requirements

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