Councillors were kept out the loop when a multi-million-pound private finance deal now costing taxpayers £1million every month was agreed.

This was revealed after Freedom of Information requests by a filmmakers of documentary, The Only Game in Town 2: The Cover Up, which it says ‘exposes the continuing cover-up’ around the council’s controversial PPP Project.

This was for the construction and maintenance of Greenwood Academy, St Matthew’s Academy, Arran High School and Stanley Primary – which over 38-years will cost taxpayers a total of £395,272,939.

The film, by former MSP Campbell Martin, named the companies NAC pays the money to as Nord LB (20 per cent), HICL Infrastructure (25.5 per cent); 3i BiFM Ltd (54.5per cent).

Documents revealed the then Council Leader cllr David O’Neill asked if elected members could see the final business case for the deal they were asked to agree.

However council official Jim Tulips was recorded in the minutes saying “the final business case was for the information of the project board only”, adding “it would only be publicly available after financial close”.

Former Independent Cllr John Hunter said: “At financial close the council did not know the detailed terms of the contract and we’re talking in the minimum of £380,000,000. If I had been councillor at the time I would have insisted that full council see the full terms of the contract.

Cllr Ronnie McNicol said: “When the decision was made they should have known all the facts relating to the PPP contract”, while SNP Cllr Tony Gurney said: “I’m not in the least surprised, I’m just really angry.”

An email exchange obtained from the then Scottish Executive’s Financial Partnership Unit– whose remit was that taxpayers got value for money – revealed Leslie Evans, now head of the civil service in Scotland and Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government was advised “the less said to the council the better.” ahead of a meeting with the then NAC chief Ian Snodgrass.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “Last year, Police Scotland were asked to carry out an investigation into allegations made in ‘The Only Game in Town’ documentary. Following this investigation, the Council was again cleared of any wrongdoing.

“In the 2000s, PPP deals were the only means of obtaining funding to build new schools. Analysis of our PPP deal show that it was one of the best.

“The PPP model is no longer used. The Non-Profit Distributing model, which sought to minimise profit, evolved from PPP. A further new model is currently being developed in partnership with the Scottish Futures Trust. The NPD model was used to fund the new Largs Academy. Scottish Government has recently confirmed funding under the latest model for the new Ardrossan Campus.

“The Council is unapologetic about its desire to ensure that our pupils have the best possible education, in schools which are fit for the needs of the 21st century. Continuing to rake over historic positions, which have already been given a clean bill of health, is a waste of everyone’s time.”