An investigation found that they had breached Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations (EIRs) by not furnishing details on the massively over-budget scheme – which was finally due to be completed last December.

The information was only disclosed during the information watchdog’s investigation.

On 1st September 2014, a company identified as ‘Firm A’ asked for a copy of a report on the flood scheme as referred to in the minutes of the council’s management team meeting in January that year.

However, the council failed to respond, and on 2nd October, the firm wrote to the council requesting a review of its decision.

Fife Council acknowledged it had failed to meet the timescales for response and provided a redacted version of the report.

The watchdog’s report narrated, “Firm A stated that they were dissatisfied with the outcome of the council’s review because they did not accept the redactions made by the council.

“Nor had the council provided them with any of the appendices to the report, or given them any reason why the appendices were being withheld.” Information Commissioner Rosemary Agnew found Fife Council “partially complied” with the EIRs, by correctly withholding five appendices – which would have involved “making available internal communications”, or prejudiced “substantially” the course of justice and the ability of a public authority “to conduct an inquiry or a criminal or disciplinary nature”.

However, she added. “The council’s response failed to comply fully with regulation 5(1) of the EIRs, in failing to provide information which was later disclosed during the investigation.

“Given that this information has now been provided, the Commissioner does not require the council to take any further action in respect of Firm A’s application.” Firm A and Fife Council now have 42 days to lodge an appeal to the Court of Session against the decision.

The Press has previously told you how the flood prevention scheme has caused years of “undiluted hell” after being mired in delays, legal disputes and huge rises in cost.

When the scheme was first announced in the Press in October 2003, Fife Council’s initial estimate for the work was £3.75m, with the two-year project due to start in April 2005 and completed by 2007.

The cost rose to £9.77m in November 2005 and the start date was pushed back a second time to May 2007.

It was due to be finished in December 2014, with an eye-watering bill of around £30m.

The scheme was designed by Atkins Ltd to minimise the risk of flooding to 175 homes and businesses near to the Lyne, Tower and Calais burns and stretches from Brucefield to the McKane Park area. The work, contracted to Byzak Ltd, caused anger, disruption and frustration for residents who lost land and access to their gardens due to the project, they’ve also endured years of traffic misery due to associated roadworks.

The council began a £9.8m court action against the project designers, Atkins, in December 2013 and also applied liquidated damages of £4583 a day to Byzak for each day they went over the deadline of 4th November 2013.

Byzak were ditched as contractors in January 2014 but the saga took another twist when Byzak were given the go-ahead to hit Fife Council for “substantial damages”.

An independent adjudicator had ruled in July that termination was invalid and the firm was entitled to receive damages from the council.

The council did not comment by the time we went to press.