The SNP claim the council have not been getting best value for selling off land in North Lanarkshire including small sites in Holytown, New Stevenston, Wishaw and Airdrie.

The major controversy seems to be an 84-acre site in Palacerigg, Cumbernauld, which was re-zoned for housing, bringing its value up to an estimated £60 million, one day after Multi Link Leisure agreed a provisional purchase from the council.

This has led to SNP fears that Multi Link Leisure were leaked information and at a group meeting voted to request the suspension of the executive director of corporate services John O'Hagan while an investigation takes place.

In a letter to council chief executive Gavin Whitefield, SNP Group press officer Paul Delaney said: "This request is not a matter that the group take lightly and we are requesting this action on the basis of Mr O'Hagan's conduct over the Palacerigg case and his overseeing as legal head of the land disposal process in general.

The council refused to comment.

Full story in July 9 edition of Times & Speaker