Frideswide Square has been the focus of much attention over the past couple of weeks. First the traffic lights failed at the notoriously congested junction, and motorists rejoiced as they glided through unimpeded.

Oxfordshire County Council then confirmed that removing the lights was, definitely its long term vision. Hurrah! However, it added it had no cash to actually carry out the remodelling work. Boo!

Just days later, in a bizarre twist, the square was the subject of a bomb hoax.

Coincidence or Big Society in action?

Oxford City Council revealed this week that its residents’ hotline – which allows disgruntled taxpayers to report problems with bins, boisterous parties and beetles (probably) – is leaving many calls unanswered.

The target is 90 per cent of calls to be picked up, but last December the rate had fallen to just 82.4 per cent.

The Oxford Mail called the council to find out why the service was failing to meet its expectations. But a council press officer (who spotted the irony moments too late) told us the team responsible were not answering her calls.

At least it’s not one rule for council officers and one rule for the rest of us.

Children from Culham Parochial Primary School serenaded councillors with their version of the Pink Floyd classic Another Brick in the Wall this week, in a bid to halt the closure of their school.

And it got the Insider thinking; what other Floyd classics could turn into songs of protest in these austere times.

Careful with that Axe, Eugene would seem appropriate for an authority looking to slash £119m from its budget over the next four years.

Would the pragmatic council leader Keith Mitchell counter with The Show Must Go On?

Perhaps his supporters could chorus a version of Shine on you Crazy Diamond?

Is anyone else thinking County Hall the Musical? If it grossed well in the West End it could solve the council’s cash problems at a stroke.

Bargain of the week: A one-bed flat to rent in central Oxford. A snip at £910 per month – especially when you consider the location.

The only photo posted on the listing was of the upper floors of the world famous Radcliffe Camera.

Perhaps a little misleading for a property that is later described as “a stunning one-bedroom garden flat”.

It turns out the property was in Abingdon Road.