The problem was revealed to the borough's cabinet by auditor Sue Sunderland at its meeting yesterday, and she warned if officers and councillors do not work together now, the future was bleak for people in Doncaster.

She added the council was "not improving adequately" - the only council in the country in that position.

At the moment the council is a three star authority but Ms Sunderland told yesterday's cabinet meeting that if one of those stars were not protected as part of the corporate assessment it would have been lost - and the protection runs out next year.

Areas particularly singled out for criticism were work with children and young people and social care for vulnerable adults.

On the plus side the council's work on housing was said to have improved since the establishment of arm's length management company St Leger Homes. The council's good relationship with the town's Primary Care Trust was praised, but it was also pointed out that it could be better.

Ms Sunderland told the cabinet: "The key reason that you are not improving adequately is the weakness in the way you behave.

"You need to work together - if you don't the future is bleak ."

Though the auditors noted that new jobs have been created in the past 12 months, they added that, due to a skills gap, many of the positions had been taken by people from outside the town.

Replying to the report mayor Martin Winter said: "Thank you for giving a very frank presentation.

"It highlights our consistant frustration at the internecine war that has been taking place.

"We spend a huge amount of time dealing with internal issues rather than concentrating on the wider issues - that has an impact on staff welfare and motivation."

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