Mr Bowles as he appears on the council's website

Mr Bowles gave crucial evidence at the trial of Jim Speechley, the former leader of the council.

Speechley has since been jailed for misconduct in public office.

The leader of the Liberal Democrats at the council, Pat O'Connor, says whistle-blowers like Mr Bowles should be defended.

Mr Bowles is on leave, but according to the Association of Local Authority Chief Executives, he is expected to return to work this week.

However the council anticipates Mr Bowles will not return, pending discussions.

Speechley was jailed for 18 months

Mr O'Connor said: "It is up to him whether he comes back or not.

"But I think it's important that we all support him, because otherwise what is anyone else in that position going to think."

Mr O'Connor said Mr Bowles enjoyed "an awful lot of support" from the Liberal Democrats and Labour Party, but was unsure about the ruling Conservatives.

The Conservative's deputy leader, Councillor Bernard Theobald, said Mr Bowles had the support of all councillors and his stance had been "vindicated by the courts".

However Mr Bowles had a "strained relationship" with the council's new leader, Ian Croft, which he believed was unrelated to whistle-blowing.

Mr Theobald said: "I think that is more an issue of personalities"

Speechley was jailed for 18 months for trying to influence the route of the A1073 Spalding to Eye bypass in order to increase the value of land he owned.