Alastair Clifford suspended from Folkestone & Hythe District Council
shepwayvox
Updated 28.06.22 @19:00
Breaking News: Alastair Clifford (pictured), Folkestone & Hythe District Council’s Chief Officer for operations, has been suspended today 27.06.22.
Of course, Alastair like any other officer who comes to be suspended is innocent until any final result of any investigation. At that time only, if the evidence is sufficient could he be dismissed.
Alastair works directly under Andy Blaszkowicz, and they have holidayed together.
We wrote about Alastair on May 28 2022, June 4 2022 and June 8 2022, when we brought to your attention that senior council whistleblowers claimed Alistair Clifford’s brother won at least seven contracts – maybe more, yet only four showed up on the contracts register. Alistair Clifford’s brother is based in the Maidstone area.
The value of these four contracts was £34,350 according to the council’s contracts register. According to several senior council whistleblowers, Mr Clifford’s brother, who runs Clifford Carpentry and Interiors, also undertook work on toilets in New Romney, and on the Civic Centre gardens teams office, fixing the roof for a leak, and refurbishing the office; which according to them was NOT a success.
According to the Council’s payment data, there were twenty five payments made to Alastair Clifford’s brother between 01/01/2019 and 4/11/2021, to the value of £71,795, which is twice the amount of the four contracts officially awarded.
The senior council whistleblowers claim, Alistair Clifford informed his brother how much to bid to ensure he was awarded the contracts.
Whether or not this is the reason he has been suspended, we cannot say at present. Mr Clifford’s suspension does not impute any wrongdoing. That can only be ascertained after any investigation the council or other body might, or might not undertake.
We have reached out to the council for comment.
Update: The Council’s response is as follows
“The Council does not comment on queries relating to individual officers.”
