Skimming a 140-page document is a fine art...

When contacted about a hefty 140-page agenda item to do with school places, the county council cabinet member for education, Melinda Tilley, admitted that she hadn’t begun to look at the relevant items.

Melinda Tilley

Three days before the meeting, she said she would “skim it” over the weekend.

There isn’t much on the telly anyway.

• Yesterday staff at the office of Wantage MP Ed Vaizey were unable to provide a detailed explanation of the Conservative’s new role, following the Government reshuffle on Tuesday.

Mr Vaizey, previously Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, has now been appointed Minister responsible for digital industries.

The MP’s aide Oliver Diamond said the Government was still “working out the fine details” of what the new position would entail.

He added: “It’s possible Ed’s responsibilities at DCMS will continue as normal and he could also be working for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, a minister straddling two departments.”

Sounds painful and about as clear as mud. Good luck Ed, whatever it is you’re doing.

• A WITNEY Town Council press release extols the joys of twinning: “Witney’s Mayor, Cllr Jeanette Baker, recently enjoyed a weekend in Unterhaching, celebrating 25 years since the signing of the twinning partnership with the German town.

Accompanied by Witney & District Twinning Association representative Eleonore Bruyere and The Witney Town Band, it was an opportunity to look back on the many exchanges that have taken place between the towns during this time.

The release goes on: “Thanks are due to enthusiastic and hardworking individuals in the Twinning Association who helped establish links between the towns and also to those people who ensured that the friendship between the towns has grown and flourished over the years.”

It included the picture, above, of the Mayor celebrating the occasion.

We’ll drink to that.