Suspended Chief Officer of Operations at FHDC, Alastair Clifford, to be re-instated on 1 September

On the 27 June 2022, we announced that Alastair Clifford (pictured) – Chief Officer of Operations at Folkestone & Hythe District Council had been suspended, pending an investigation, relating to contracts awarded to a family member.

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.

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.

Alastair was suspended during July & August on full pay, but we now understand he will be re-instated as of the 1 Sept 2022, according to claims by senior council officers.

It is not known if Alastair has received any verbal or written warning, nor would the council divulge such information.

Alastair was one of four officers who were suspended. We understand one has gone onto resign, while the other two await to hear what, if any punishment they might receive, once the investigation into them is concluded.

Any officer suspended is innocent, unless evidence on the balance of probabilities, or beyond reasonable doubt, is uncovered; which might suggest otherwise, whether that be by an internal council investigation, or an external investigation.

The Shepway Vox Team

Dissent is NOT a Crime