CLLR BRADLEY helped arrange the meeting via a number of emails sent to Mr Forde on Saturday, November 17 – the day after the Mathew Street report was made public.

In one sent from Cllr Bradley’s private account, he wrote: “Lee, really need to speak to you to discuss next steps.

“I am as p----- off as you regarding this whole episode, and how the report can finger people and not others.”

In an interview with the Daily Post on the day of the report’s publication, Cllr Bradley criticised the leadership of Culture Company chief executive Jason Harborow.

Mr Harborow, who is due back at work on Tuesday after several weeks off sick, was cleared in the council’s internal report.

When originally approached by the Daily Post on Thursday, Cllr Bradley denied meeting with Mr Forde.

But last night he admitted a meeting did take place and claimed he emailed him after a text from Mr Forde on the day the report was published.

That is denied by Mr Forde, who insisted: “I did not text him on Friday, I was too busy trying to defend my reputation.

“I am willing for any independent expert to examine my phone and phone records, will Cllr Bradley do the same?”

Mr Forde is in the middle of a case of constructive dismissal against the council, after resigning two months before the Mathew Street Festival.

His 14-page dossier includes emails in which Cllr Bradley apparently requested the meeting with him and a full detailed account of what was discussed on the night.

The men drank Peroni lager and Cllr Storey was brought to the Wavertree rendezvous by Cllr Bradley’s wife, Pauline.

Last night, Liverpool City Council said it was waiting for a response on the matter from the Standards Board but would “co-operate fully” if an investigation was launched.

MR FORDE said his motivation in making the meeting public was that he wanted the truth to come out.

He wanted to clear his name with regard to blame for the cancellation of the August Bank Holiday festival.

At the end of the almost two- hour meeting, Mr Forde said he agreed to meet again, but then phoned Cllr Bradley on Monday, November 19, and said he had taken legal advice and was unable to release any documents until his constructive dismissal claim was settled.

Cllr Bradley said: “Lee texted me and said he would like a chat on Friday. I emailed him back.

“He then emailed me again and said he had information.”

He said he thought it was incumbent on him to hear what Mr Forde had to say and to have a witness present.

“It was not a seedy little meeting in my shed. He was absolutely desperate to talk. I had a very private conversation with him and he said quite startling things that I thought should not really have been raised there.”

He said he raised the issues with the council chief executive, Colin Hilton, and senior Culture Company staff in the “first couple of days after the meeting”.

“I have exchanged texts with him [Mr Forde since the meeting], that’s as far as it’s gone.”

HE SAID he had met him on a number of previous occasions.

City solicitor Rex Makin is now acting for Mr Forde, and said the industrial tribunal had pencilled in a date in March for the hearing. Mr Makin said: “I am very surprised that, in the middle of an application for an industrial tribunal, that this approach was made, according to my instruction by Mr Forde, by the council leader.

“It’s very unfortunate that this situation exists, it’s a lamentable situation.

“This emphasises the necessity that the original report should be revealed.”

Labour leader Cllr Joe Anderson last night said: “This is a return to toytown politics which have done so much damage to our city in recent years.

“It’s not the behaviour that people expect from the leader and former leader, why not have the meeting officially at the town hall in normal office hours?

“It proves that the Lib-Dems are not fit to govern.”

A Liverpool council spokesman said: “The city council understands that information has been passed to the Standards Board which makes allegations against two elected members by a former employee.

“We are currently awaiting the response of the Standards Board and will co-operate fully if they decide to launch an investigation.”

davidbartlett