Plans to bring in a private firm to run the Villa Marina and Gaiety Theatre are now unlikely to take place before September’s general election.
Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly met staff and unions last week to give them an update on the proposals to outsource the running of the venues.
In December we reported that three private operators, which each operate major venues in the UK, had been shortlisted and invited to submit detailed proposals on running the Villa-Gaiety complex. A decision on whether a private company would be brought in was due to be made by March or April.
But Mr Skelly said invitations to tender would not now be done until probably early next month. A decision would not be made ‘this side of the election,’ he said.
The Minister said the option of creating a theatre trust to run the Gaiety had been ruled out. But he said if an invitation to tender was made, local parties and the management themselves could put together a bid. The complex will remain in public ownership.
In the House of Keys, he said: ‘The process has been stalled. It’s simply because we want to make sure we get this right.’
He said the process will continue with tenders evaluated over the summer but the decision itself would not be made until the next administration.
Mr Skelly told MHKs that exploring the idea of a theatre trust had been one reason for the delay but this option had ultimately been deemed not credible to pursue.