A Leicester city councillor is to be quizzed by party bosses after being accused of threatening a colleague during a planning meeting.

Former cabinet member Andy Connelly – who denies the claim – approached fellow Labour councillor Paul Westley in a meeting last month following a dispute over a council away-day.

He has since been asked by local party officials to explain his actions.

Coun Connelly has also been asked to justify why he voted against Labour group policy in a full council meeting, in March.

A senior Labour source said there was an issue with Coun Connelly's "attitude", which the party needed to "sort out".

Coun Connelly, who represents Westcotes, said: "I've been accused of threatening a Labour councillor by the party, but it's a load of rubbish.

"I turned up at the planning meeting to represent a constituent but it turned out the issue wasn't on the agenda.

"So while I was there I went up to Paul and had a word in his ear and made my opinions clear about an issue I had from the previous day from a council away-day.

"Any suggestion that I threatened him is a load of rubbish."

Senior members from the local party have requested a meeting with him for the past month, but Coun Connelly said he has turned the offers down so far because he has had other commitments.

He said: "It has been difficult to find time for a meeting with the party whip and other members. I've had work commitments and on another occasion I had to look after our children."

At a full council meeting in March, Coun Connelly voted for four task group chair positions to be created instead of five, which the Labour group favoured. He insists he has done nothing wrong.

A senior Labour party source said concerns about Coun Connelly's "attitude" had been raised both locally and regionally.

The source said: "Andy has voted against Labour policy in a public meeting, he made an issue with Coun Westley in a planning meeting, and he seems to try and attempt to wind-up people within the party with some of the things he does.

"It's an issue with his attitude and we need to sort it out.

"We're discussing it locally but we're also in touch with the East Midlands branch of the party.

"They have input when it comes to selecting candidates for the local elections, and if they're unhappy with the way a member has behaved they can make it difficult for them to stand again.

"It's later this year when Labour's candidates for next year's local elections will be selected.

"We don't mind constructive debate. We're like a big family, we'll have our differences and make our opinions heard among ourselves, but we have to present a united front to run the city effectively."

Coun Connelly was one of three people who did not return to the cabinet following Veejay Patel's takeover as leader in March.

He left alongside Patrick Kitterick and former leader Ross Willmott.