Councillors in Milton Keynes are poised to give their verdict on two critical reports that will decide the future of chief executive, John Best, and director of learning and development, Vanessa Gwynn. Both Mr Best and Ms Gwynn have been on leave from the council since publication of the first report into a school building programme in February. The report, by Richard Penn, a senior associate of SOLACE Enterprises, criticised the lack of action by both the chief executive and director of learning and development. As The MJ went to press, members were due to discuss the report and the consequences at a full meeting of the council. One cabinet member, Euan Henderson has already resigned in advance of the meeting. Mr Penn also criticised members of the Milton Keynes' corporate leadership team for contributing to major problems with the programme, although a supplementary report acknowledged that Cllr Henderson had called for more speedy management action on problems with defects and delays in building new schools. His initial report found ‘fundamental weaknesses' in the schools programme and an absence of effective project management which exposed the council to significant risk. It also said Mr Best was ‘less than engaged' with problems in the school build programme. Mr Penn said: ‘The question has to be asked why the chief executive, regardless of personal style preference, did not see it as his clear organisational responsibility to intervene and to intervene decisively when he became aware that there were organisational obstacles.' He said there was a ‘continual failure' by Ms Gwynn to recognise and accept responsibility for the schools programme, which led to a catalogue of problems with new buildings.
