Vision Nine remove TT from website + Updates
Malcolm Offline
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Vision Nine remove TT from website + Updates
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Announcement expected soon on deal



The Vision Nine website no longer has any reference to the Isle of Man T.T. or Festival of Motorcycling.

Tynwald approved the appointment of the London-based company to be the events promoter from 2017 back in April.

In early August, Manx Radio broke the news that the contract remained unsigned.

The Department of Economic Development confirmed the story and that it was to continue in the role of organiser for next year's events.

Manx Radio understands the matter is being discussed by the Council of Ministers today.

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(This post was last modified: 28-11-2016, 08:07 PM by Malcolm.)
24-11-2016, 12:45 PM
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Malcolm Offline
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RE: Vision Nine remove TT from website
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Vision Nine seeks clarity on TT deal

DED isn't communicating with approved TT promoter

The company approved by Tynwald to run the TT says the Department of Economic Development has only sent three pieces of correspondence since April

Vision Nine has heard rumours suggesting the deal has collapsed - but the DED is yet to respond to requests for a meeting.

The company now says it will take legal action against the department if there's truth to the speculation.

CEO Julian Topham insists Vision Nine has suffered serious reputational damage as a result of its link with the Isle of Man Government.

He says it's time to talk:

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28-11-2016, 12:52 PM
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Malcolm Offline
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RE: Vision Nine remove TT from website
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DED confirms collapse of TT deal

Vision Nine contract has fallen through


The department of economic development (DED) has confirmed a deal with Vision Nine to run the TT has fallen through.

In a statement issued on Monday evening, the DED said the London-based company had been formally notified of the collapse.

It comes after months of speculation about the agreement for Vision Nine to promote the TT and Festival of Motorcycling events.

The firm recently revealed it had spoken to the department just three times since April.

More to follow.

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DED says it is aware of the company’s intention to issue legal proceedings against it and as such the matter is now ‘sub judice’.
(This post was last modified: 28-11-2016, 07:52 PM by Malcolm.)
28-11-2016, 07:47 PM
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Malcolm Offline
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RE: Vision Nine remove TT from website + Updates
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Chris Robertshaw MHK

Keys rejects call for Vision Nine debate

'Wrong time' for govt to speak on failed venture

An attempt to force the government to answer questions about the collapsed Vision Nine TT deal, has failed in the House of Keys.

East Douglas MHK Chris Robertshaw tabled an urgent motion at this morning's sitting, asking for a debate as a matter of 'utmost urgency'.

But although he attracted the four backers needed, the House as a whole turned down the request when it was put to the vote (16 votes to 6).

The Vision Nine deal would have seen an external promoter effectively run TT and the Festival of Motorcycling on behalf of government.

But the partnership collapsed during negotiations, in what could prove a costly venture for both parties.

The chief minister said the Manx government is following legal advice by refusing to comment on the matter.

Howard Quayle told the Keys further public discussion would be 'dangerous' and could 'prejudice' court proceedings - but confirmed the Department of Economic Development's efforts to grow the TT will continue.

Mr Robertshaw said he had deep concerns that DED had not been honourable in its dealings with the firm:

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29-11-2016, 02:22 PM
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Malcolm Offline
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RE: Vision Nine remove TT from website + Updates
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Failed TT deal 'a warning' for firms

Vision Nine taking legal action against DED



The company that thought it had agreed a deal to run the TT says it's beginning legal action against the Department of Economic Development.

Vision Nine was formally notified yesterday by DED that the contract to promote the TT and Festival of Motorcycling had been scrapped.

CEO of the London-based firm Julian Topham says the saga serves as "a warning" for those wishing to do business with the Isle of Man Government in future.

Mr Topham insists this is now in the hands of lawyers:


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29-11-2016, 02:27 PM
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Malcolm Offline
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RE: Vision Nine remove TT from website + Updates
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Howard Quayle MHK

Chief Minister’s statement about Vision Nine collapse

The Chief Minister this morning made a statement about the collapsed Vision Nine deal in the House of Keys. 

Howard Quayle said the issue was being referred to Tynwald’s economic policy review chairman, Michael Coleman MLC. But he said he couldn’t say more because of legal matters. 

He was speaking after Chris Robertshaw raised the matter at this morning’s sitting. 

Mr Quayle’s statement reads: 

‘Following discussions with other Isle of Man government departments, the Department of Economic Development has decided to discontinue the current independent promoter tender process for the TT Races and Classic TT Races. 

‘The Department of Economic Development confirmed in a press statement last evening that Vision Nine has been formally informed of this decision. 

‘Mr Speaker, as previously stated, the Department of Economic Development will continue to work with the other government departments and independent contractors to deliver the 2017 Isle of Man TT Races. 

‘The Department of Economic Development also supports a review of the future delivery of the TT Races and Classic TT Races for the benefit of the Isle of Man and this work will begin in the very near future. 

‘I can also confirm that the Minister for Economic Development has referred the matter to the Chair of the Economic Policy Review Committee for further consideration. 

‘The department has been advised by lawyers acting on behalf of Vision Nine of their intention to issue legal proceedings and in the circumstances the matter is now on the advice of Her Majesty’s Acting Attorney General sub judice as any discussion or debate on the issue at this stage in knowledge of the fact that proceedings are about to be issued creates a real and substantial danger of prejudice to such proceedings and therefore there is nothing more I can say at this time based on the clear advice which I have obtained from Her Majesty’s Acting Attorney General.’


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29-11-2016, 02:35 PM
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Malcolm Offline
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RE: Vision Nine remove TT from website + Updates
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TT company disputes government's 'sub judice' claims

The UK company at the centre of a contract row over the promotion of the TT says the matter is not 'sub judice'.

Vision Nine says it hasn't yet filed any legal proceedings with a court or tribunal - despite saying it plans to do so.

Earlier this week the Department of Economic Development confirmed the deal with the UK promoter for the TT and Classic TT Races was off.

In the House of Keys the Chief Minister claimed he couldn't talk about the collapse of the plans due to the matter being under judicial consideration:

[Image: listenhere.jpg]

Vision Nine says it doesn't understand on what basis Howard Quayle considers the matter to be sub judice and says it's 'highly regrettable' that the government has refused to give any explanation for its actions.


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01-12-2016, 11:56 AM
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RE: Vision Nine remove TT from website + Updates
I was about to post about this when I saw the previous post - no qualified lawyer would have said this is sub judice but they would have certainly have told them to say nowt as its almost certain that it will be useful to cloud 9. Having watched the interview with Mr Topham (before they had had the decency to tell him that the deal was off) I can understand why hes upset but  can;t see that they will have much of a chance because-  1. every proper public tendering exercise always  clearly states that competitors do so at their own expense and risk and that no contract even has to be awarded - its at your own risk its subject to contract and you  build up no legitimate  expectation even if you win the competition (of course this assumes that the gov employed at least a barely competent trainee lawyer when preparing the tender?) 2 As I remember Vision 9 created a company particularly for this venture, probably to limit their exposure if they failed to perform, as such its unlikely that it had any reputation to protect - theres an old saying in the law that only rich men have reputaions and a shell company with no history or cash isn;t likely to get much from a court.


What was interesting was that mr Topham suggested that there had been resistance to change from within the department (DED?)
I've said before that if the contract was lucrative enough we would have seen the DED employees forming a company (or at least having shares in one) and feathering their nest - its the manx way! ( the gov have never divulged the identlty of the other bidders) In the event it clearly went pear shaped when cloud 9 came in with no assets or experience of running motorsports events and made loads of patently unrealistic claims and nearly snatched the prize from under their noses. Part of the Gov saving was baling out most of the DEDwood to cloud 9 and I suspect that even after offering a silly 10 year initial contract the staff would be unwilling to bale out of a comfy gov job to a potless start -up with little chance of success - I doubt cloud 9 wanted to employ any of the 'amateurs' (as Mr Topham called them) on Island and would have preferred to hire their own.
Behind the scenes I suspect other gov departments smelled cash in the water and started circling - some would have legitimate concerns about increased pressure on services but others probably just saw the illusionary £ figures.


Anyway, although I am pleased that cloud 9 won't get the opportunity to wreck the TT, it's most worrying what will happen next - having spend loads of cash 'proving' that the event needs to be farmed out it will be - I doubt any company with the competence to do it will go near it with a barge pole so anything could happen - the manx reputation has been badly damaged - heads should be rolling but they won't.
01-12-2016, 01:14 PM
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Malcolm Offline
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RE: Vision Nine remove TT from website + Updates
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Skelly responds to questions over collapse of Vision Nine deal

Besieged Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly MHK insists his hands are tied over what he can say about the collapse of the Vision Nine deal, in the light of likely legal action. 

Handling of the TT promoter contract has descended into farce as the government refused to be drawn into debating a matter which it says is now sub judice, when an issue cannot be publicly discussed while under consideration by a court. 

Backbench MHK Chris Robertshaw tabled a motion of urgent importance in the House of Keys this week. 

Mr Robertshaw asked why members had not been informed about the concerns of departments when the Vision Nine deal was brought to the April Tynwald for approval. He also asked why there had been a ‘embarrassing’ delay between the Council of Ministers voting to discontinue the tender and informing Vision Nine. And he queried why the DED had stated that the matter was sub judice, when ‘clearly at this stage it is not’. 

He questioned why government departments ‘simply cannot get their act together’ but added: ‘I do hope that when we come to look at this matter we do not choose to scapegoat either a Minister or a chief executive, but are more honest in our appraisal of why on earth we are making these sorts of mistakes.’ 

The DED Minister has referred the matter to Tynwald’s economic policy review committee. We posed a series of questions to Mr Skelly, which we believe can be answered without undermining the government’s position in any future legal action. 

1) How would you say DED has handled the tender process and the announcement that it is to be discontinued? 

He replied: ‘We cannot comment as we have been advised by the Acting Attorney General that specific detail regarding the case could fall into the area of sub-judice.’ 

2) Why was Vision Nine not told of the decision sooner, ie straight after the CoMin vote? 

Mr Skelly said: ‘Vision Nine were formally advised of the decision at the earliest opportunity on November 28 2016.’  

3) Could this situation have an impact on the island’s reputation as a place to do business, and on the DED’s ability to encourage investment to the island? 

Mr Skelly said: ‘The department is working to ensure that this will be maintained with a series of initiatives that are designed to make the Isle of Man an attractive location for relevant businesses. The department is confident that this growth and investment will be maintained.’ 

4) DED has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons recently – The Jacksons, Tom Jones and now this. Have you considered resigning over this matter? Should the position of senior officials within the department by reviewed? In short, should heads roll? 

Mr Skelly replied: ‘I have already advised that the matter has been referred to the economic policy review committee. Other comment would therefore be inappropriate at this time.’ 

5) Do you still believe that bringing in a private promoter for the TT is the right way forward? 

Mr Skelly said: ‘A review of the delivery of the TT and Classic TT will be undertaken but the delivery of the 2017 TT Races and Classic TT Races is on schedule to be delivered as usual under the existing structure and by the existing team following our decision in August that the Isle of Man Government would remain the promoter for both events – a decision which was notified to Vision Nine at the time.’ 

6) Was it DED’s intention to complete this tender and did DED have the authority to do so? 

Mr Skelly said: ‘We are unable to comment as these are matters that have been raised by Vision Nine’s lawyers in their notified claim against DED.’ 

7) What assurances can you give for TT 2017 and beyond? 

Mr Skelly said: ‘TT and Classic TT 2017 will be delivered by the existing experienced team and under the existing structure that has successfully delivered recent events. Both events are operating to the usual delivery plan.’



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02-12-2016, 12:34 PM
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