TT shakedown targets 'systemic issues'

Enterprise bosses escape committee recommendations

Six recommendations have been made to ensure there’s no repeat of problems which led to the collapse of a deal to privately run the TT.

They’ve been proposed by a Tynwald committee after a report criticised Enterprise Minister Laurence Skelly and the department's former chief executive, Chris Corlett, for their joint role in the failed Vision Nine scheme.

An outline deal between the promoter and the department was scrapped 14 months ago – six months after it had been approved by Tynwald.

No contract was ever signed.

Despite singling out Mr Skelly and Mr Corlett as responsible for the failed deal, the recommendations, brought forward by the Economic Policy Review Committee, focus more on systemic issues.

It proposes CoMin, Treasury and the Attorney General's Chambers review rules on confidentiality and ensure departments can work together on commercial deals.

The committee suggests departments should not obtain legal advice from the private sector without approval of the Attorney General.

Other recommendations include examining how government looks to outsource, and which major projects need to be managed from an 'interdepartmental' perspective.

Furthermore, it asks for an economic impact assessment of the TT and Festival of Motorcycling to be carried out and laid before Tynwald by June.

Above all though, the committee stress safety on and off the course must be government's highest priority when developing motorsport events.