Relations between councillors and the chief executive of Nottingham City Council have worsened, after he accused them of holding back progress. Mediators had already been called in to improve dialogue between Michael Frater and elected members, but the Audit Commission's CPA assessment was that the council was one of 13 which were ‘stuck' and have failed to improve. The commission has criticised Nottingham on four occasions in the last year over internal tensions, with politicians being accused of interfering with the work of officers. Mr Frater has written to every elected member highlighting poor relations between councillors and officers was the key issue which was blighting performance. He wrote: ‘These issues cannot be ignored or denied any longer. We are now in the worst 10% of councils. I cannot believe councillors are prepared to tolerate that.' Council leader, Cllr Jon Collins, rejected the assessment of his chief executive. ‘The things that matter to people's lives have improved,' he said.