Ward profile: Hanover and Elm Grove

Candidates (Three seats)

Rachel Bates (Conservative)

Lettie Egan (Conservative)

Dominic Helfgott (Conservative)

David Gibson (Green) - @davidinhanover

Dick Page (Green) - @dicpagebrighton

Hollie Wharam-Moscrop (Green) - @HollieWharam

*Emma Daniel (Labour) - @huxley06

Ivor Fried (Labour) - @IvorFried

Chris Taylor (Labour)

Andrew Oliver (Liberal Democrats)

Phil Clarke (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)

Poll watch

Muesli Mountain. It is a clichÃ© that requires a mention in every local newspaper article about politics and Hanover and Elm Grove. So we may as well get it over with as soon as possible.

Stereotypically, it is the densely-populated domain of healthy-eating, Guardian-reading, tree-defending, no-fracking, caring professsional couples, with 2.4 bicycles.

The victory of Emma Daniel in a by-election in July 2013 - overturning a Green majority of more than 900 - galvanised Labour activists into believing they really could turn the Green tide in the city.

Ms Daniel - new to party politics, but with a good heart and an established record in service in the third sector '“ helped engender a long-lost sense of momentum among Labour grassroots.

Several factors were on her side: a refuse workers' dispute that split the Greens; a concentrated campaign by Labour's small army of "super-activists" from across the city;and - crucially, perhaps - a vote during the university holidays. More than one in four residents are students aged 18 or older.

Can the momentum be maintained on May 7? Well, a refuse workers' dispute is beginning to boil again and Sussex University term does not start until May 11.

It is certainly possible the Greens can regain lost ground. But if Labour win all three seats, they would be heading for majority control.

2013 by-election results (July 11 2013, after the resignation of Councillor Matt Follett)

Candidates Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Votes (%) Â

Emma Daniel (Labour) 1,396Â (40%)

David Stuart Gibson (Green) 1,358 (39%)

Robert John Knight (Conservative) 275 (8%)

Patricia Ann Mountain (UKIP) 250Â (7%)

Phil Clarke (Trade Union and Socialists Against Cuts) 172 (5%)

Lev Eakins (Liberal Democrats) 56 (2%)

2011 election results

CandidatesÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Votes (%)Â

Bill Randall (Green - elected) 2,861 (19%)

Matt Follett (Green - elected) 2,800 (18%)

Liz Wakefield (Green - elected) 2,576 (17%)

Leo BarracloughÂ (Labour) 1,662 (11%)

Tracey Hill (Labour) 1,661 (11%)

David Speirs (Labour) 1,606 (11%)

Rosemary Faulkner (Conservative) 499 (3%)

Roger McCabe (Conservative) 441 (3%)

Karen Miles (Conservative) 434 (3%)

Elliot Jonathan James Eke (Liberal Democrats) 189 (1%)

Raymond John Parker (Liberal Democrats) 159 (1%)

Jon Redford (Trade Union and Socialists Against Cuts) 156 (1%)

Belkasim Hassan Gahran (Liberal Democrats) 140 (1%)

Factfile (Source: Census 2011)

Households: 6,501

Density (people per hectare): 156

Women: 50% (8,013)

Men: 50% (7,993)

Average age: 32

Higher managerial occupations: 9.5% (1,287)

Unemployed: 8.6% (797)

White: 89.7% (14,355)

Black/African/Caribbean/Black British: 1.5% (247)

Asian/Asian British: 3.5% (564)

Number who cannot speak English well: 95

Dependent children in household (% of all households): 25.4%

Christians: 30%

No religion: 55%

Number of same-sex civil partnerships: 124

Divorced: 7%

Living as co-habiting couple: 17.6%

Married: 20.1%

One family - all aged 65 and over: 2.2%

Lone parent - with dependent children: 8%

No adults in employment, with dependent children: 4%

Long-term unemployed: 1.2%

Activities limited a lot by poor health: 5%

No cars or vans in household: 41%

No qualifications: 11.4%

Full-time students aged 18 and over: 25.8%

No adults in employment- with dependent children: 4%

One person in household with long-term health problem/disability - with dependent children: 3.8%