A council boss who claims she was the victim of sexist treatment has admitted her own anti-sexism policy "left a lot to be desired."

Sheryl Grady, chief executive of Worthing Borough Council, claims she was demoralised and undermined by her employer because she was a woman.

Under questioning at an employment tribunal in Brighton yesterday she took responsibility for the "striking failures" of the council's equal opportunities policy but rejected claims she ignored staff complaints.

Solicitor Martin Downs, for the council, pointed to an Audit Commission report which found shortfalls in the council's equal opportunities policy and said Miss Grady had done little to improve equalities in the three years since her appointment.

He said: "You don't seem to have an equal opportunities policy in place until April 2003.

"On the one hand you are saying you are suffering from Worthing Council because it's not sympathetic to women. On the other, if complaints are brought to your attention, you don't seem to be doing anything about it."

He added: "You had been Acting chief executive from February 2000 and there has got to be a time when you take some responsibility for the perceived striking failures of the council and its record on equal opportunities."

Miss Grady, who is seeking compensation from the council and its former leader, Sheila Player, said: "I accept fully I would be ultimately responsible for equalities.

"I made sure issues were drawn to my attention. I set up a working group on equalities to give it a high profile. I pressed for an equalities officer to be appointed.

"I accept the equality scheme left a lot to be desired, but I have always believed equalities are important."

The tribunal heard about the rapid disintegration of relations between Miss Grady and elected members.

The 47-year-old, from Hove, claimed Lib Dem leaders had ordered their colleagues to vote against her appointment.

Miss Grady, who earns £80,000 a year and went on sick leave last December suffering from stress, described how things deteriorated when the Liberal Democrats took control of the council in 2002 and Miss Player became leader.

In March last year, Miss Grady sat through a "disgraceful" meeting with councillors, whom she accused of being rude and aggressive towards her.

She said: "It was humiliating, embarrassing and offensive."

The chief executive has submitted dozens of complaints against the council and Miss Player, who lost her seat in local elections last May.

These include claims her orders to remove pictures of topless women from council offices were ignored, she was referred to as "Goldilocks" by Miss Player and was kept in the dark about possible job cuts.

Miss Grady has been accused by Miss Player of being politically biased.

Mr Downs also suggested her claims of sexual discrimination may have been an afterthought.

At several meetings when Grady expressed problems with her working relationships she did not mention sexual prejudice as a reason, the tribunal heard.

Mr Downs suggested the problems were differences in personality rather than sex discrimination.

But Miss Grady said the meetings were designed to solve specific working problems.

She said: "The key to the problem is Councillor Player treats me very differently than she treats men."

The council and Miss Player deny the allegations. The tribunal continues.