Councillors and experts from other authorities have delivered a mixed verdict on a city council.

An independent review by local government professionals said Brighton and Hove City Council was playing a key role in transforming the resort into a vibrant city.

But it said the council could take a long time to get things done and there were leadership problems.

The review was conducted in March, before current leader Ken Bodfish took over. Its findings have only just been published.

Team spokesman Bill Murphy said: "It is clear the council is going to use the review as a real chance for change.

"I suspect there have been times when many have wondered why they agreed to do it but the discussions they are having clearly needed to be had.

"The team recognised the hard work and progress the council has made and that it has many of the skills needed to up the pace of change.

"One major strength is the willingness and desire of the business community and others to work to make Brighton and Hove achieve its considerable potential.

"Real improvement in services to local people is what matters.

"The council does do many things well. The challenge is now to demonstrate excellence in everything it does."

Chief executive Glynn Jones said: "I think the council was brave to have invited in a group of respected experts to look critically at how we operate.

"A number of messages from this review seem very clear.

"One is that we have achieved a lot in a short time and we now have an amazing opportunity to take our new city forward into the new century.

"However, we need to reconnect with some of our communities and focus more clearly on the expectations of our residents and customers.

"I believe the council provides a tremendous array of services, far more than any other authority in the area.

"We do some of these brilliantly. We do some of these averagely, and frankly, some of them we don't do very well at all.

"In the last few years we have stabilised the ship and put Brighton and Hove on the map but we now need to get down into the engine room and really get our hands dirty."

Tory opposition leader Brian Oxley said: "I fear ideology will once again get in the way of improvement."

The report praised the council for bringing together services previously provided by other authorities.

It said the council had put Brighton and Hove on the map and made an impressive series of initiatives.

The report praised its partnerships with other organisations and said Mr Jones was a well-respected and extraordinary networker.

It said: "The city is one which feels at ease with itself and celebrates the diversity of its great population."

But the review was critical of some services and said departments tended to be too insular.

Residents' experiences of dealing with the council were too variable and there was a great opportunity to improve communication.

The report said: "Politically, the council has been too introspective and, in areas, is too much driven by processes, not achievable outcomes.

"While there have been some very successful examples of project management, there are also examples which lack focus, leadership and evaluation."