A DECISION to axe a former monitoring officer has brought about “clear improvements” at Middlesbrough Council, an employment tribunal has heard.

Tony Parkinson, interim chief executive, claimed “history will show it was the right decision” to merge the roles of Karen Whitmore and another senior office, Paul Slocombe, into one post.

Mr Parkinson spent yesterday being cross examined at the tribunal of Ms Whitmore, who claims she lost her job after raising concerns over “flawed” asset sales, including Acklam Hall, Gilkes Street and The TAD conference centre, in Berwick Hills.

During the second day of his evidence, Mr Parkinson said he “didn’t want to score any own goals” and had also sought legal advice to make sure he was carrying out the redundancy process properly

“I knew she (Ms Whitmore) was going to discredit me.

“I was more than happy to receive alternative views but I didn’t get any from Karen.”

The judge asked Mr Parkinson what history he had to give him that “feeling or anticipation”.

Mr Parkinson responded: “I had worked with Karen for two-and-a-half years and she was difficult to deal with.

“She didn’t respond well to criticism – she would go into fight mode, and she didn’t accept constructive criticism in a one on one situation.

“She never raised any grievances, but there was never anything as serious as this – the two and half years made me realise how she would react.”

Mr Parkinson accepted “inconsistencies” in his accounts of Mrs Whitmore and Mr Slocombe’s behaviour when they were both informed their roles were being considered for deletion.

In his response to Mrs Whitmore’s formal grievance, Mr Parkinson had said: “Paul was quiet, taking time to take it all in, but Paul was angry”.

However, in another statement made to another council department, Mr Parkinson had said they “both seemed a little angry.”

On Monday, Mr Parkinson denied asking Mrs Whitmore to cover up an investigation into the sale of Acklam Hall.

He said: “The notion that I would ask Karen to undertake a report and ask her to cover it up while giving her the very information I thought needed exposing doesn’t make any sense.”

The hearing continues.