Moving from OBC to FBC

This guidance document sets provides an overview of the fundamental considerations for Towns as you move from OBC to FBC.

Although we recognise Towns will be at different stages of the business case process (for example, shovel-ready projects are likely to be at FBC stage), for the purpose of this document we will focus on the transition between OBC stage to FBC stage.

We have produced this guidance in accordance with Green Book Guidance and in relation to the TFDP Business Case Template (optional).

TFDP Business Case template

The Towns Fund Delivery Partner (TFDP) have prepared an optional Business Case template for the Towns Fund programme. This template should help Towns establish a sound structure for their Business Cases in line with both government guidance and best practice.

Please note that this template will be regularly updated with changes in guidance or policy, and Towns should check back regularly to see any updates. A change control note has been added to the front of the document to inform users of the updates made.

The Business Case template document also provides the accompanying guidance and resource:

• Summary Document: as part of the business case process, a Summary Document must be submitted to MHCLG. The Summary Document is mandatory, and must be approved by MHCLG before funding can be released.

• Proportionality Guide: for each of the five cases, we set out key questions and considerations to help you gauge the level of detail required for your business case. At the end of the document, you can use the Proportionality Tool to assess where each business case falls on the scale of these key questions, which should help you understand the level of detail required for your business case.

We have published a blog, which introduces the template to Towns.

The template was updated to version 4 on 19th August 2021

Stage 2 Support Offer

As the Towns Fund Delivery Partner, we are working to support you in developing robust and considered Business Cases and projects that will help you achieve positive change in your Town. Your Town Coordinator will work with you to guide you through the resources available and ensure you can access appropriate support throughout each stage of the Towns Fund process. This document summarises what is on offer during Stage 2 up to October 2021.

A recording of the recent Town Resource Showcase webinar can also be found on the website.

This document was updated on 4th August 2021.

Meeting the Public Sector Equality Duty

The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) is an important part of all decision making for the public sector, and the Towns Fund is no exception. All public bodies, including local authorities, have a duty to consider how their policies or decisions affect the nine ‘protected characteristics’ under the Equality Act 2010.

There are no additional or specific Towns Fund requirements for the PSED. However, in order to make it easier to ensure that the PSED is considered and discharged, we have developed an optional assessment format which can be used as a framework for the PSED process and can be tailored to reflect local circumstances. The format includes separate assessments at project level and at the programme level, and it is important that impacts are considered in the round across the suite of projects proposed in your Town Investment Plan. (For example, there may be a more significant cumulative impact on a protected characteristic than when considered simply on a project-by-project basis).

We have included the Family Test in this optional assessment format. Whilst the Family Test only applies to government departments and not local authorities, you may choose to consider it alongside the protected characteristics.

As well as simply discharging the PSED for its own sake, assessing how projects and the wider programme impact on different groups of people is a valuable exercise in making sure that the Towns Fund investment benefits all and is as successful as possible. Following your assessment, there may be a need for further actions, including changing aspects of the projects or even re-prioritising projects. It is therefore doubly important that equalities and the PSED are robustly and proportionately considered.

Please speak to your Town Coordinator if you would like further support on what the PSED means for your Town.

Stakeholder Engagement Good Practice

This recorded webinar focuses on Stakeholder Engagement and Communications at Business Case stage. The presenters walk through a model and steps to take to keep your stakeholders engaged throughout the business case development. This webinar aims to equip you with best practice tools to maintain engagement and communication throughout this next phase of the Towns Fund deal. 

Addressing your Planning, EIA and HRA needs in your business case

The purpose of this document is to provide additional guidance in relation to addressing planning, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) needs within your Towns Fund business case. This document supplements the Introduction to Business Cases provided by the TFDP (here).

This document provides an overview of some of the key actions associated with planning, EIA and HRA processes and outcomes that you should consider when preparing your business case.

Road to Delivery: Planning & EIA requirements

The purpose of this Briefing Pack is to set out some of the planning and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) considerations that you might face during development of your business case and whilst progressing your projects. Projects may interface with the planning system and EIA requirements in different ways, and it will be important to understand what might be required to deliver such projects.  

The Briefing Pack is intended to provide an introduction to these issues to Town Deal Board members and local authority officers who do not have a background in planning and EIA. Please speak to your Town Coordinator if you believe you require further support, including bespoke advice on planning and EIA strategies. Advice can also be sought from your local planning authority.

Stakeholder Engagement to support Business Cases

This guide provides information to help support you when developing your Business Cases. It outlines the process in more detail, the key role of engagement and includes examples of what a strong Business Case should look like.

The guidance is summarised by the image below, showing the Eight Simple Steps to building stakeholder engagement into the development of your Stage 2 Business Case.

Implications of the new Green Book for the Towns Fund

On 25th November 2020, HM Treasury published The Green Book 2020, an update to the 2018 Government guidance on how to appraise policies, programmes and projects, underpinning business cases for public investment.

This guide provides a review of the Green Book, and how it may impact the Towns Fund, and complements the recently published blog.

Engagement Evidence

A community and stakeholder engagement plan is key to building a strong Business Case and it is critical in demonstrating how you manage stakeholders during project delivery.

It needs to show how you have engaged with people and how you will continue to engage as you work up business cases, and project delivery.

But you only have limited space, so what evidence should you include? This guide gives you some tips on what to include, and how to present it.

An Introduction to Business Cases

NB: The webinar, and accompanying slides were produced prior to the publication of the Towns Fund Business Case guidance.

Description:

As Cohort 1 Towns received their Heads of Terms and moved into Stage 2 of the Towns Fund programme, this webinar was hosted to provide an introduction to the Business Case process in the context of Towns Fund.

It included:

• an overview of the HM Green Book 5-case model and

• provided some overarching advice on how to approach the five cases, including a checklist for key content for each case

• emerging Towns Funds specific business case guidance

About the speaker:

Adriana Moreno Pelayo is an experienced Economist at Arup with nine years of experience, having developed a wide variety of business cases across different sectors, particularly in the transport sector. She coordinates the transport business case network at Arup and sits in the committee of the Transport Economists Group. Adriana contributed to Arup’s paper on how to reform the Green Book and has presented at different events on the topic.

Joe Gregory has over eight years of experience delivering infrastructure engagements across a portfolio of clients, including local and central government and private sector clients, predominantly within the real estate sector. He has advised multiple councils on their Future High Street Fund business cases.

Stakeholder and Community Audit Guidance

To develop a successful Business Case or delivery plan you will need to actively engage with key stakeholders within your town. A shared vision and commitment from a range of stakeholders, showing how they have played (and will continue to play) an active role in the development of your project, will go some way to demonstrating that you have secured buy-in from the local community.

This document, produced by Copper, provides an overview of the types of information to consider when developing your Business Case or delivery plan and identifying stakeholders to proactively engage in the process.