Former council leader denies vendetta against chief executive

Sheila Player, who led Worthing Borough Council until losing her seat in June, was accused of trying to hound chief executive Sheryl Grady out of her job.

At an employment tribunal Miss Grady, 47, who lives in Hove, alleges sexual discrimination by Liberal Democrat Miss Player and the council, saying she was undermined and demoralised by some colleagues and councillors because she is a woman.

She has been on sick leave since last December.

Miss Player, cross-examined on her second day in the witness box, was accused of using a disciplinary procedure against Miss Grady as a "perfect opportunity" to oust her from the job.

Miss Grady's solicitor, Simon Bellm, suggested Miss Player had been plotting to get rid of his client. He accused Miss Player of encouraging former councillors to complain against Miss Grady.

But Miss Player dismissed Miss Grady's fears of a witch-hunt against her as paranoia.

She told the tribunal the relationship between her and Miss Grady began to deteriorate when she queried the manner of her appointment as chief executive in 2000.

She said: "We thought the post should be advertised externally but were over-ruled at the time by the Conservative administration. We were not critical of Sheryl personally but at the way she had been appointed."

But, she said, "When she was appointed we agreed to draw a line under it and start afresh."

Things took a turn for the worse when Miss Player expressed worries about Miss Grady's management style.

She said: "We were concerned that she was not fulfilling the ambassadorial role we had in mind for the chief executive, that she paid too much attention to detail and did not take a holistic approach to the job and at her apparent bias towards the Conservative group."

She denied her concerns were motivated by sexual discrimination. She also received complaints about Miss Grady's "unkempt" appearance at work and her attendance record at meetings of local council leaders and chief executives.

South-East Employers (SEE), an organisation providing personnel advice to local authorities, and the Association of Local Authority Chief Executives were brought in to try and resolve the differences.

Miss Player said: "It was a very sensitive situation. Sheryl had a tendency to make threats of disciplinary action if anyone disagreed with or criticised her. She took things very personally and did not take criticism well."

Madeline Sumsion, from SEE, told the tribunal: "Both parties agreed they had over-reacted to the various circumstances and agreed the events leading to the more hostile discussions should be seen as a blip in the otherwise improving relationship."

That was until Miss Player received a complaint from the GMB trade union against Miss Grady, accusing her of bullying, inducing stress, creating an atmosphere of blame and putting improper pressure on staff.

It was then, suggested Mr Bellm, that the council leader saw her opportunity to oust the chief executive. He said to Miss Player: "Is it not the case you took the opportunity to encourage complaints and used them to try and get rid of her?"

Miss Player said: "Emphatically no." She also denied being unfairly harsh on Mrs Grady's department.

She said: "In my time as a councillor I only had problems with three officers.

"One was Sheryl Grady and the other two were men. We may have clashed about her style of management but it was nothing to do with the fact she was a woman."

There were equal opportunities for women and minorities during her time at Worthing Borough Council, she added.

The council and Miss Player deny the allegations of sexual discrimination. The hearing continues.