Milton Keynes' three-week political vacuum ends

Milton Keynes Council is back under democratic control following the restoration of the troubled authority's Liberal Democrat administration.

The move, which also restores Isobel McCall (Lib Dem) to her pre-local election position as leader, ended a three-week political vacuum during which officers had been running
executive functions.

Opposition parties blocked Cllr McCall's appointment of an eight-strong cabinet team  and effectively handed control to officers following criticism of the council's school-building programme last month, (LGC, 29 May).

At a tense full council meeting last week, and following an apologetic speech by Cllr McCall, the Lib Dems named a new cabinet. In a deal to prevent the Tories taking control,
Labour backed the Lib Dems, which form the largest group. Labour holds the balance of power.

The council also formed an all-party constitutional review commission to look at making it easier to replace leaders, while Cllr McCall promised to remedy the problems in the schools programme.

In a statement, the council said: "No portfolios have been confirmed yet, but cabinet members will work in teams covering people, place and resources."

Norman Miles, Labour leader, said his group had been unwilling to support putting the Tories in charge. "My party took the view that we were not going to assist a Conservative administration to take control," he said.

"Ms McCall is the lesser of two evils. We will be looking for a change of style from her as there was a lot of arrogance previously."