An investigation has been launched over alleged corruption within East Renfrewshire Council.

Dealings between a council worker and now-liquidated Clarkston firm Premier Tree Surgeons are being probed.

The move comes after lawyers for Ayrshire Tree Surgeons made a formal complaint to council chiefs.

The Barrhead News understand the employee is being investigated over claims he took financial incentives in exchange for awarding jobs to Premier Tree Surgeons.

It is also understood that Ayrshire Tree Surgeons have now demanded the council stump up £160,000 for work they allegedly missed out on.

A source close to the investigation said: “Last year the council put its tree surgery work out to tender and Ayrshire Tree Surgeons got the job. They found they were not getting a great deal of work but Premier Tree Surgeons were.

“A council worker has now went off on the sick. Meanwhile, the council has been served with a complaint and a £160,000 bill from Ayrshire Tree Surgeons.”

A spokesman for East Renfrewshire Council has confirmed that an investigation into the matter is “currently ongoing.”

He added: “We have been contacted by a company in relation to this and will respond appropriately in due course.”

Ayrshire Tree Surgeons were awarded the highest rank during the tendering process for arboriculture work in East Renfrewshire last year.

That means they are the priority contractor when the council needs hedges and trees planted, removed or pruned.

If they are unable to fulfil orders within a specified period, the order is then raised with the next contractor, which was Premier Tree Surgeons.

On Public Contracts Scotland’s website, the contract award notice said: “The contracts awarded from this tender exercise shall be awarded on a ranked basis with the top three most economically advantageous companies.

“All work will be ordered with the top scoring contractor. However, should the winning contractor not have the capacity or availability to fulfil the order within a specified period, an order shall be raised with the next ranked contractor.”

The council’s investigation is expected to be concluded next month.

A police spokesperson confirmed they have been notified about the investigation but said it is an internal matter for the council.

No-one at Ayrshire Tree Surgeons was available for comment.

However, a spokesman for Premier Tree Surgeons described the investigation as “absolute nonsense.”

He said: “We were never involved in anything like that.”