Council bosses have been given a lukewarm performance review after inspectors ruled most of their services were up to scratch but political infighting was hampering progress.

Worthing Borough Council's performance is "fair" but no better, the local government watchdog revealed today.

Audit Commission inspectors found the authority is exceeding targets to provide low-cost housing, manages the benefits service and its own finances well and keeps its parks and seafront clean. It is also improving facilities for youngsters.

But they also found a lack of consensus between the political groups and "unconstructive relations" have delayed important decisions and service improvements.

The council has not been good at managing the "big picture". It has poor information systems, so it does not keep on top of its plans and lacks a financial strategy to realise ambitions.

Worthing has not planned for the long term and is now faced with major decisions on ageing leisure sites which need considerable investment, the commission warned.

Audit Commission senior manager Chris Westwood said: "Worthing Borough Council is providing some good services and starting to engage local people about priorities.

"But it must keep up the momentum by moving on from past difficulties and ensure it makes its resources work to the best effect delivering improvements local people want to see."

Since May's local elections, Worthing's Liberal Democrats and Conservatives each have 18 seats each.

But Lib Dems have the advantage as town mayor James Doyle is a party member, giving them the deciding vote in the event of a hung council.

As reported in The Argus, this situation has led to heated rows.

Today, council bosses put a positive spin on the report, saying they had done well in areas which mattered most to residents.

Council leader Sheila Player said: "The comprehensive performance assessment process was very demanding and time-consuming for both members and officers.

"Overall, we feel the assessment was fair and will help us to improve over the next three-year period."