THE cabinet member responsible for economic growth faced a grilling from fellow Swindon Councillors over the controversial Oasis lease on Monday night.

Coun Garry Perkins (Con, Haydon Wick) faced questions from the scrutiny committee for more than an hour on a variety of topics surrounding the issue.

In 2012, Moirai were given a 25-year lease to refurbish the iconic leisure centre and develop the surrounding land, but the project has been beset with problems.

However, it also emerged the final stage of the refurbishment, which will involve the replacing of the famous dome, is set to start soon as the necessary items have been purchased.

At the meeting, questions were asked on whether the correct level of due diligence was carried out on Moirai before the lease was given and the recent decision to alter the terms of the contract.

As well as the refurbishment of the centre, the project will see the building of an indoor ski-slope and 5,000-seat arena. An application was due earlier this year but nothing has materialised, so under a change to the agreement, Moirai have been given until May 2015 to submit one or face having the land taken off them.

This change to the lease, which set a series of targets, was done without going before cabinet or council, a decision criticised at the meeting, as was the loss of thousands of pounds to local businesses when a subsidiary of Morai went bust.

During the questioning, Coun Perkins conceded that things could have been easier with the project but that the project is progressing and Swindon will benefit in the long term.

He said: “We were over optimistic with the time scales given the economic situation but this is often the case with developers.

“Since we introduced these mile-stones all have been met and there has been significant movement. We would hope to see the refurbishment works finished by March.

“This is millions in investment which the council could never have afforded. The £850,000 is what I talk about when it should have been easier. Of course I am sorry the businesses have lost money and we should not have found out the way we did.

“The council has made it clear we were not happy with the situation and have spoken with the company about the possibility of using these companies when the development is finished, so there may be a positive outcome yet.”

But opposition councillors were not happy with many of the responses and say more answers are needed.

Coun Jim Robbins (Lab, Mannington and Western) said: “What we saw was a lot of bluster but no real concrete answers.

“I reject the claim that by asking questions we are running down Swindon and do not know about development.

“We want to see the ski-slope and arena built but don’t think Moirai are the company to do it. There is nothing to say they are the right company and anything that has been done is late.

“Most telling was that no-one has met Miroslaw Wojciechowski, who took on the company that went bust owing thousands to businesses. It shows the correct due diligence was not done, possibly because the council are scared of the answers.”