Increasing demand for public services creates ever more pressure on the public resources available, increasing the need to make better use of these limited resources. The challenge to those preparing and advising on spending decisions has never been greater. In this context, it is vital that spending and investment decisions are based on highly competent professionally developed proposals.

This best practice guidance from the Treasury and the Welsh government has been refined and tested over many years, and it provides a clear framework for thinking about spending proposals and a structured process for appraising, developing and planning to deliver best social value for money: all of which is captured through a well prepared business case to support objective, evidence based decisions.

Increasing demand for public services creates ever more pressure on the public resources available, increasing the need to make better use of these limited resources. The challenge to those preparing and advising on spending decisions has never been greater. In this context, it is vital that spending and investment decisions are based on highly competent professionally developed proposals.

This best practice guidance from the Treasury and the Welsh government has been refined and tested over many years, and it provides a clear framework for thinking about spending proposals and a structured process for appraising, developing and planning to deliver best social value for money: all of which is captured through a well prepared business case to support objective, evidence based decisions.

This latest version of the best practice guidance is updated to maintain its alignment with the refreshed Green Book 2018. It provides a practical “step by step” guide to the development of business cases, using the Five Case Model – in a scalable and proportionate way. It recognises and aligns with other best practice in procurement and the delivery of programmes and projects. Experience has demonstrated that when this guidance is embedded in public sector organisations, better more effective and efficient spending decisions and implementation plans are produced. At the same time the approach when correctly understood and applied provides a more efficient planning and approval process saving between 30% and 40% in time taken and cost of production of business cases compared with unstructured approaches.

The guide provides a framework for thinking and a process for developing and gaining approval which is flexible and scalable as well as a range of tools that can be applied proportionately to provide clarity in the decision support process. It also provides a clear audit trail for purposes of public accountability.

All centrally funded public spending proposals including those subject only to approval by UK Departments or other centrally funded organisations are required to use this approach and the five case model method, as are major programmes and projects considered by the Treasury and Cabinet Office. Colleagues with responsibility for developing proposals should be professionally trained and accredited through the better business cases programme established in 2013. 

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