Mr Henshaw claims there has been a conspiracy

Sir David Henshaw says council leader Mike Storey tried to undermine him.

The claim comes after e-mails between Mr Storey and suspended chief press officer Matt Finnegan were uncovered in an internal council investigation.

The matter has been referred to the Standards Board for Local Government. Mr Storey says he is confident they will clear him of any misconduct.

I am confident I will be exonerated by the Standards Board for England Cllr Mike Storey

Phil Halsall, the council's executive director for resources, issued a statement on Tuesday saying there was a "clear conspiracy between Mike Storey and Matt Finnegan to force Sir David Henshaw out of his position as chief executive".

He added that Mr Storey promised Matt Finnegan "personal protection from a proposed internal audit review", and concludes that Mr Storey and Mr Finnegan's behaviour "fell far short of the standards expected by the council or by national codes".

Mr Henshaw said he was pleased this statement had been issued.

He said: "The report provides prima facie evidence of a conspiracy and collusion between a senior member of the city council and a senior officer on their own in the council, with others outside, to orchestrate a media campaign to force the chief executive out of office."

But Mr Storey, who is a Liberal Democrat, said he is confident he will be cleared.

In a statement he said: "Only one body is authorised to determine whether a serious breach of the code of conduct has occurred, and that is the adjudication panel for England, after an investigation for the Standards Board for England.

"It is not for the executive director of resources or any other officer to judge my conduct.