East Ayrshire Council has confirmed that it has dismissed its Head of Planning and Economic Development.

Alan Neish, and others, was the subject of an internal disciplinary process prompted by a damning report following the opencast cash controversy.

A £132m restoration shortfall was left after the high-profile collapses of Scottish Coal and ATH.

The Council say they have taken the step to break their silence over the internal probes because of 'significant public interest.' However, they refuse to make any further information available.

Mr Neish has the right to appeal the decision and also has the Employment Tribunal avenue available to him.

The statement in full from East Ayrshire Council is as follows: “Due to the general legal requirement of confidentiality in respect of employment matters, including disciplinary issues, it is not the normal practice of the Council, as an employer, to make public comment on individual disciplinary cases. "However, in recognition of the current prevailing circumstances, including a significant level of public interest in the opencast coal situation within both East Ayrshire and elsewhere nationally, the Council can confirm that it has continued to comply with all due process in responding to the situation which has emerged since the liquidation of the former Scottish Coal Company Limited and Aardvark TMC Limited in 2013.

"In that regard, following receipt of the report of the ‘Independent Review of Regulation of Opencast Coal Operations in East Ayrshire’, the Council agreed on 28 January 2014 to a further, formal internal disciplinary investigation which considered the roles and conduct of various officers across a range of Services relative to the previous operation of these sites. "That investigation, in turn, led to formal disciplinary proceedings being taken against certain individuals, including the Head of Planning and Economic Development, in respect of whom the decision has now been taken to dismiss him from his employment with the Council, with immediate effect.

"Given the matter remains live, in respect that every individual employee has a right of appeal against dismissal to a Panel of Elected Members, and there is also the potential for subsequent Employment Tribunal proceedings, the Council cannot make any further comment on the matter or any other ongoing disciplinary proceedings relative to the opencast situation.”