A FORMER council boss accused of creating a “laddish” culture said a Nazi salute made at a meeting was “more Dad’s Army” than anything remotely fascist.

Mike Robinson, previously chief executive at Middlesbrough Borough Council, also denied he routinely referred to female staff as “birds”, but did accept telling an inappropriate joke in front of colleagues.

Mr Robinson was giving evidence in an employment tribunal hearing in Middlesbrough involving Karen Whitmore, the local authority’s former monitoring officer and assistant director.

She is suing the council, alleging unfair dismissal and sexual discrimination after she was made redundant.

Mrs Whitmore also claims she was asked to cover up wrongdoings in the £1.2m sale of Acklam Hall, Middlesbrough’s only Grade I listed building.

Middlesbrough Council is defending the claim and refutes Mrs Whitmore’s allegations.

Mr Robinson was asked about a meeting in January 2015 in which a trade union official made a Nazi salute.

Mrs Whitmore said that Mr Robinson made a similar salute, but this was denied by the former council chief.

Referring to the official’s gesture, he said: “It was more Dad’s Army, than fascist salute. I frowned at him, but I did not respond with a salute as alleged.”

He said he had never referred to women as birds in a generic sense, although he did refer to a female executive director as “posh bird”, which he said was a nickname they shared between them.

Julie Dalzell, for Mrs Whitmore, asked Mr Robinson if he accepted a joke he told in the claimant’s presence – about nuns, toilets and the desert – had been inappropriate.

He said: “Yes it was a bit of toilet humour and never repeated.”

Mr Robinson said he would be devastated if anyone took offence and said humour in the workplace was an important part of leadership.

He said relations with Mrs Whitmore broke down and defended a decision to place her on home leave, prior to her redundancy, which she says led to her being escorted off council premises

Mr Robinson said he was comfortable with the decision, but saddened by it.

He said: “I did not feel it was in the interests of the organisation for her to stay at work.”

Mr Robinson referred to a meeting he had with Mrs Whitmore in which he said she reacted “aggressively” about being asked whether she wished to retain the monitoring role she had been employed in for about 18 months.

He said he believed she felt undermined and it was decided to allow her continue. He said: “I determined to make her feel more valued.”

The tribunal continues.