What new surprises, pray tell, has Oxfordshire County Council leader Keith Mitchell got up his sleeve for Oxford then?

We only ask, because at Tuesday's council meeting he was quizzed about what his ruling Conservative administration could do to appeal to Oxford voters (given the fact that the party has not one councillor in the city).

And his reply? "Watch this space".

Ominous, eh?

Pressed further by Liberal Democrat county councillor Alan Armitage, Mr Mitchell said his party would be making imminent announcements, which, according to Mr Armitage "would probably not be to my liking".

So no changes there, then.

The Insider hasn't yet managed to track down Mr Mitchell to grill him on this issue, but rest assured, I will.

The talk of Blackbird Leys 48 hours before Sir Elton John is due to bang the Old Joanna and perform at Oxford United's Kassam Stadium is who might appear on stage as surprise guests.

Rumours are so rife that bets are being taken.

An even money punt is a heart-wrenching rendition of Candle in the Wind with the estate's own Ivor's Choir, but if you are after long odds then perhaps put a few quid on a duet with former Oxford United chairman Firoz Kassam who still owns the stadium bearing his name or maybe Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting with outspoken parish council chairman Brian Lester.

After all, stranger things have happened.

Sartorially elegant Oxford University historian and Lib Dem city council deputy leader David Rundle surpassed even his own high fashion standards at the first meeting of the new executive committee on Monday.

Dressed in crisp white shirt, cream suit and bespoke brogues, all he needed was a crumpled leather hat, whip and the Holy Grail and he would have been every inch an Indiana Jones lookalike.

Sadly for fellow executive board member Patrick Murray, who went for a similar look, it was more a case of Tom Jones than Indiana Jones.

After years of petty squabbling, in-fighting and denial it now looks more likely than not that a 14,000-home development on land south of Grenoble Road in Oxford will go ahead with the blessing of the Government.

And that's one in the eye for the county council, which has consistently denied Oxford City Council the opportunity to ease its chronic housing crisis through an edge-of-city housing development.

The last word on the matter goes to city councillor Ed Turner, who said: "I find it deeply frustrating that people who are well housed devote so much of their time to stopping other people being adequately housed I find that perverse, really."

Wonder who that comment was aimed at?

If environment Minister David Miliband is the Wayne Rooney of Tony Blair's cabinet (as the Prime Minister revealed on BBC Radio Five Live this week) then who in the county or city council decision-making cabinets has an England squad counterpart?

Suggestions to my email (address below) and the best may even get a bottle of something.

the insider@nqo.com