Poor-performing Milton Keynes Council has been given another roasting by town hall watchdogs.

The council was already reeling after services for children were ranked inadequate and it was later demoted from three-star to one-star status.

Government officials have recently been working with the authority to help it do a better job.

But now the powerful Audit Commission has said it is not improving quickly enough.

"Cross party working and community leadership, senior management capacity, value for money and a consistent and strohg performance management culture are not in place to drive improvement at the pace
necessary," the Commission has ruled.

It calls on the council to smarten up on children's services, planning, regeneration and growth, payment of benefits and community engagement.

Improved management and control of services are needed, says the Commission.

There were many more temporary senior managers than permanent ones.

Although there was good leadership in some services, effective coordination across the council had yet to be firmly secured.

There had been a six-week delay in agreeing party political leadership following last year's elections.

The council's political make-up - with no party in overall control - was inhibiting community leadership, the Commission says.