Milton Keynes chief executive, John Best, has resigned in the wake of highly-critical reports into his handling of the council's school-build programme. Corporate director, Kate Page, has been appointed as interim chief executive. Council leader, Isobel McCall, said: ‘Ms Page may well be in post for at least six months and possibly longer, leading and managing the organisation, pending recruitment to the permanent post. In the meantime, arrangements will be put in place to cover her corporate director role.' Both Mr Best and director of learning and development, Vanessa Gwynn, have been on leave from the council since publication of a first report by a senior associate of SOLACE Enterprises, Richard Penn, in February. It criticised the lack of action by both the chief executive and director of learning and development. This led to the resignation of schools programme portfolio holder, Euan Henderson (see The MJ, 13 March). A formal council statement said: ‘After five years at the helm, during which he has led the organisation from being a weak council to three stars and improving, Mr Best is moving on from his current role.'
