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***Malcolm*** · 03-08-2016, 01:30 PM

Minister denies TT contract is in a mess

Delay means Vision Nine won't take over in 2017

The economic development minister has been trying to deflect criticism of the handling of the new TT promoter contract.

It's emerged the deal between the government and Vision Nine is yet to be signed, meaning control of the TT and Classic TT will not be handed over next year, as originally planned.

One of the sticking points is reportedly other government departments raising issues with DED, described as 'operational matters'.

There's also now the matter of trying to get official sponsors, operators and broadcasters for just one more year, as all existing contracts ended in 2016, to give Vision Nine a clean slate when it took over.

Despite all this, Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly denied the situation was in a mess, when he spoke to Tim Glover:

Listen to what he has to say - HERE

***Malcolm*** · 03-08-2016, 01:37 PM

Govt steps in for 2017 Mountain Course racing

Deal with Vision Nine yet to be worked out

There will be no new promoter in place for TT 2017 or the Classic TT next year.

The Department of Economic Development has taken the decision after announcing a delay in the appointment of preferred bidders Vision Nine.

The Manx government will therefore continue to organise the events.

Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly says the department and proposed promoter have been unable to finalise the agreement and terms of the appointment.

He quotes operational matters raised by other government departments as being a factor.

Another area of concern for the Manx government will be no commercial partners in place for either event in 2017, as contracts expire at the end of this season - and that's why it is stepping in now.

Both parties are said to be disappointed and working towards a new agreement with a revised starting date.

One question to put, though - why wasn't all this worked out before the proposed deal was approved by Tynwald back in April?

STEVEVTR · 03-08-2016, 04:16 PM

Didnt see this coming did we, lol

***Alfie Noakes*** · 03-08-2016, 05:32 PM

Due Diligence methinks

badlyoverdrawnboy · 03-08-2016, 08:09 PM

(03-08-2016, 05:32 PM)Alfie Noakes Wrote: Due Diligence methinks

Nooo Alfie, the IOM gov only do due diligence after the contract fails and all the moneys gone. It then becomes a 'learning execise' for the next contract.

Can't really see which other departments would be affected by someone taking 90% of DEDs workload and £2 million of gov spending off the balance sheet and you would have thought that any that did would have been involved in the rigorous selection process, obviously not!

The real problem is probably to do with the staff - obviously the plan was to shed the DED wood to make some of the savings and, as the Island has no TUPE provisions, they will only go by agreement, I very much doubt anyone with a cushy Gov job and pension are about to jump to work for a company with no money and no track record on a ten year contract with supposedly strong severance provisions for non performance (which will almost certainly be triggered when reality bites).

From the Cloud 9 s point of view they're faced with having to take a load of civil servants on overblown terms and conditions when they could hire better people for less in the open market, on top of that they will have to pay the salaries until the first sponsorship cash comes in so, by TT 2017, they will already be a couple of hundred grand down before they start (and remember they have nowt to start with)

I find it absolutely incredible that an island full of millionaire business people continually fails to carry out competent tendering and contract award processes - i can't remember one where they haven't been rolled over by some very average spivs

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