A TOP cabinet member is going to face a roasting this evening – just before he comes up for re-election.

Coun Garry Perkins, deputy leader of the council, will face a barrage of tough questions over how he is handling his cabinet responsibilities.

He is in charge of economic regeneration, and is due to present an account of just how hard he has been working for the town when he faces the council’s scrutiny committee tonight.

Coun Perkins is the most senior politician seeking re-election on May 5, and opposition councillors have made it clear they are not going to give him an easy ride when they meet face-to-face at the Civic Offices.

Coun Derique Montaut, leader of the Labour opposition (Central), said either he or Coun Rochelle Russell (Lab, Gorse Hill and Pinehurst) will be posing questions about regeneration, including the 50 Promises.

As the report coming before the committee shows, the council did not achieve Promise 27 (to find a new home for Swindon’s modern art and museum collections), and only “partially achieved” Promise 35 to regeneration of the town centre, both of which fall under Coun Perkins’ portfolio.

Coun Montaut said: “They haven’t met all these promises, but the key issue is they are soft targets.

“But on economic growth, cycleways and other areas they’ve totally failed.

“It’s my intention to raise the issue about the administration’s poor performance. Some of the key issues are about the Mechanics’ Institute and some of the other issues relating to development or regeneration policy.”

Coun Andy Harrision (Lib Dem, Penhill) said he would also try and attend, and ask questions about Coun Perkins directorship of the Digital City wi-fi company.

He said: “I’ll be looking at things to do with his portfolio, particularly what he considers to be his responsibility on outside directorships.

“When you ask him questions he’s kept referring people to go to the company. But he’s our representative on the board. In all honesty, who’s he responsible to?”

But Coun Perkins (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms) said he “enjoys” his grillings at the scrutiny meeting.

“I’m pleased that someone is taking an interest in it,” he said.

“Outside the Olympics site in London we’ve got the largest committed investment anywhere in the UK, with Union Square, the college site and other work coming through, we’re looking at not far short of half a billion when you look at all of it.

“As far as I’m concerned things are happening extremely fast. The problem we have in Swindon is too many people who live here talk it down.

“With scrutiny, I don’t have problems answering any questions. I seriously enjoy it.”

Asked about facing more questions over wi-fi, he said: “Have they got nothing else to talk about? People will only be happy when its all folded up. The questions over the last years have done nothing to help.”