Fife Council has suspended five members of staff following allegations of theft.
The Courier understands that all five worked at a recycling depot in the East Neuk.
They have been suspended pending an investigation into allegations they were rifling through recyclable materials and hiving off lucrative scrap metal, which was then sold off.
Roddy Mann, the operations manager with Fife Council’s environment services department, confirmed the details of the probe.
“Five members of staff have been suspended while an investigation is being carried out,” he said. The council declined to comment any further, saying it would be “inappropriate” at this stage.
“The claim is that they were picking through material coming into the site,” a source told The Courier. “Scrap metal was then being tucked away in a locked container. The workers were then disposing of it for their own benefit.”
The investigation is being run internally by the council and there is no police involvement at this stage.
Wider details of the probe remain shrouded in mystery with even local councillors being kept in the dark.
East Neuk and Landward councillor Mike Scott-Hayward said he had heard “rumours” about the investigation and he hit out at Fife Council’s hierarchy for failing to keep elected members in the loop.Annoyed”I am very annoyed with the council administration because there is a protocol which is being ignored here,” he said. “It was previously agreed that local members would always be informed in advance of things that would represent a constituency interest.
“I have heard rumours from individuals walking the streets that something untoward has gone on at a recycling depot in my ward, but nothing from any officials.”
Mr Scott-Hayward said the secrecy surrounding the allegations does nobody any favours.
“You can imagine my annoyance when members of the press phone me about this issue before senior members informed me of any investigation,” he continued. “That they have failed to so is an extreme discourtesy.
“I do not wish to malign any staff but clearly there is the suspicion that something has gone on.”
The price of metal has rocketed despite the global downturn, with copper and brass among the most highly-valued items. Popular targets have included drain covers from roads and signalling cable from railways.
Earlier this week, The Courier revealed that a Fife church faced a repair bill running into thousands of pounds after thieves tore lead from the roof.
Meanwhile, back in April thieves caused more than £2 million worth of damage to Methilhill Primary School after stealing valuable lead during a series of raids.