A secret investigation into a council chief executive at the centre of a sex discrimination row has so far cost the taxpayer at least £30,000.

Worthing Town Hall reluctantly released the figure after repeated calls from critics concerned about the spiralling cost of the inquiry.

Now the four-strong cross-party special personnel committee set up to investigate the conduct of chief executive Sheryl Grady has bowed to public pressure.

One of its members, Tory councillor John Livermore, said: "It is not a question of money well spent. It was money that had to be spent.

"We had to investigate a situation that arose. Unfortunately, any investigation incurs costs."

The £30,000 does not include the council's defence against a separate sex discrimination case tabled by Miss Grady.

The case, which will be heard in June, cites both the council and its Liberal Democrat leader, Sheila Player.

Tim Everett, the borough's director of services, dismissed fears the case might end up costing £1.2 million to £1.4 million if it went in Miss Grady's favour.

He said the success rate of sex discrimination claims was put at only four per cent and the average compensation in the few that were successful was £5,000.

Mr Everett also rejected the suggestion the council had made an offer to £80,000-a-year Miss Grady to settle the matter.

The special personnel committee, which met on Monday, has agreed to progress "without delay" the investigation into Miss Grady, who is on long-term sick leave.

Doubt had been cast on the role of Coun John Lovell, chairman of the committee, who was barred from the selection panel that appointed Miss Grady after being accused of "bias" against her bid for the job.

At about the same time, in 2000, he also submitted a complaint about Miss Grady to the District Auditor.

But Coun Player rejected any accusation of bias. She said: "At the time of the appointment, the Lib Dem group queried the selection process.

"What we were saying was the job should have been advertised externally as well as internally so we got the best possible field. At no time whatsoever did anyone argue against Sheryl Grady as an individual."