A KEY cabinet member is set to be grilled by opposition councillors next week over the issues surrounding the Oasis lease agreement.

Since Moirai took over the running of the iconic centre in 2012, with the promise of bringing in large scale development, there have been a host of problems, such as missed deadlines and lost money for local businesses.

Labour believe too much of the dealings have been done behind closed doors and are keen to question the cabinet member for economic growth Garry Perkins (Con, Haydon Wick) over the deal. However, council leaders have long maintained not everything can be aired in public for commercial reasons.

Recently, the lease was altered to give Moirai deadlines for achieving certain stages of the development. The first three have been met so council leaders are confident they will bring the development promised, which includes refurbishing the centre and building an indoor ski slope.

For Labour though, this is not enough and they want to know the reasons Moirai have not been stripped of the lease.

A report has been published by Coun Perkins ahead of the meeting outlining how the current situation was reached, but more details are wanted.

Coun Jim Robbins (Lab, Mannington and West), the shadow lead for leisure, said: “For us this seems to be the edited highlights and I am hoping there is more to come at the meeting.

“There is no mention of the businesses which lost thousands of pounds they will not see again, and nothing about the man who took on the debt from Moirai that no-one has seen.

“In the fallout of the wi-fi saga it was decided that there should be more openness in council business but we have not seen that here. There are lots of questions which still need answering, most notably why Moirai have been given so many chances. The Oasis is in a horrible state and something needs doing.”

Since taking over the lease, £1.5 million has been spent on a new gym and entrance but deadlines in the original lease to refurbish the poolside changing rooms and famous dome were missed, although they are set to be carried out this year.

In the revised lease conditions, Moirai must have this work completed by early next year as well as submit plans for the ski slope and rest of the development by May. Failure to do so may see the lease withdrawn.

Council leader David Renard said: “Moirai slipped with some of the masterplan but so far they have met the first three milestones set in the new lease so we are confident at this stage they will deliver.

“The issue is whether they can deliver for Swindon and at the moment we believe they can. If they fail to meet these milestones then we will look to take action as we have said.”