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The chief executive and leader of Nottingham City Council have denied reports of a rift in their relationship. However, they have confirmed a mediator from the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) has gone into the council to resolve issues over ‘member/officer relations'. Chief executive, Michael Frater, and leader, Jon Collins, issued a joint statement to staff after rumours of spilt. But while many chief executives leave after rows with ruling politicians, Mr Frater and Cllr Collins maintain they have resolved their differences and are working at improving relations for the sake of the city. Problems were sparked by a CPA corporate assessment and joint area review, during which inspectors claimed they had concerns over the clarity of the different roles of officers and elected members – including the leader and chief executive. ‘Changing the way the council works so we can become a first-class, four-star organisation is going to require changed behaviours across the board, and not least in terms of the respective roles of officers and elected members and the leader and the chief executive,' they said in the joint statement. They added that a consultant from the IDeA ‘is helping both of us to establish the necessary clarity about those respective roles'. ‘We're both very positive about the progress we are making and about how this important work will take the council forward and benefit the people of Nottingham.' The Nottingham Evening Post claimed that a local, unnamed businessman said: ‘It is a fault in the way local authorities work that they don't have non-executive directors who are neither councillors nor employees.' Several recent chief executive departures have been due to clashes with the political leaders. More historic departures include Sir David Henshaw, former chief executive of Liverpool City Council, and Jim Brooks, former boss at Hull City Council.

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WHITEHALL

IDeA steps in as Nottingham leader and chief deny rift

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