A former Bradford Council executive member last night hit back at fresh claims about his conduct and denied any “wrongdoing”.

Former Conservative councillor Adrian Naylor confirmed he willingly took part in a meeting with the Council’s chief executive and a monitoring officer in February last year “to discuss an issue of perception regarding one female member of staff and how that might be potentially misinterpreted”.

But Councillor Naylor, now an Independent, insisted the matter was resolved to everyone’s satisfaction at that meeting.

He said quotes attributed to a “Tory spokesman” in a report published yesterday in another newspaper were “factually inaccurate”.

The Council declined to comment on the matter to the Telegraph & Argus yesterday.

Coun Naylor also said the matter would have been referred to the Standards Committee if it had been serious.

“This was not the case and I categorically deny any wrongdoing,” he said.

Coun Naylor said he was awaiting confirmation that neither the Conservative Party nationally nor Keighley Conservative Assocation issued a statement which he contended was wrong.

He also ruled out the link between the matter and his de-selection by the association as its Craven ward candidate.

Coun Naylor left the party as he decided to defend his Craven seat as an Independent candidate in next week’s election, having failed to win selection as the Tory candidate.

Last night, mystery surrounded the identity of the Tory spokesman quoted in reports.

A spokesman for the office of Conservative Keighley MP, Kris Hopkins, confirmed it had not issued the statement, and said it had not come from the national party or local association. The Conservative group leader on Bradford Council, Councillor Glen Miller, also denied issuing the statement.

Conservative group chief whip Councillor Mike Ellis confirmed he was at the meeting attended by Coun Naylor in February 2011 as part of his role representing group members.

He said he had made an agreement discussions would remain confidential, and he could not disclose details of the meeting, even to the group leader or regional level of the party.