The Insider

Our man waving the josticks told us an interesting tale of a recent gathering at this quiet Regency venue, which was once owned by Brighton Rock author Graham Greene.

From what we hear, hippies dusted off their tie dye shirts and turned up to participate in a strange, but entirely innocent, wedding in which former porn star Annie Sprinkle (we looked her up, but purely for research purposes) was the star turn.

But we don’t know who was more surprised: him at seeing Green city councillor Sushila Dhall, right, – who was among those who had turned up – or her for being spotted.

Perhaps she was there to do some council case work?

Over the years we have learned to take dispatches from the press office at Oxfordshire County Council with a large pinch of salt. But two that landed on The Insider’s desk this week especially caught our eye.

In the first, County Hall apologised for the chaos of Monday’s road works on Magdalen Bridge, which caused misery for scores of motorists.

Not only did the council forget to tell anyone the work was happening, but after a day of gridlocked traffic, bus users alighting in the middle of the road and walking to their destinations and drivers attempting ten-point turns in narrower parts of St Clement’s, a spokesman, with no sense of irony, said: “We apologise for any CONVENIENCE to road users and we appreciate their patience.”

Shome mishtake shurely!

IN THE other release, the county council’s new decision-making cabinet was announced amid much fanfare, but little interest.

In it, we learn that Tory county councillor Michael Waine continues in the job of cabinet member for school improvement.

So, tell us then Michael, which school is it that needs improving? We’re dying to know.

Having been drunk for the past month or so on the excitement of the county council elections, The Insider is only now waking up to the almighty hangover that is the reality of four more years of Conservative control.

But at least it’s heartening to know a row is already under way at County Hall.

Perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised to learn the Tories are thinking of doing away with the long-established tradition of sharing the non-political positions of chairman and vice-chairman among opposition groups.

This year would have been the turn of the Liberal Democrat opposition, but The Insider is tipped off that the Tories will do away with convention and parachute two of their own in to fill these largely ceremonial roles.

Inevitably this has upset Lib Dem group leader Zoé Patrick who said: “They have ignored the fact the majority of people voting in the recent county elections did not vote Conservative.”

Let battle commence!