Labour will be short of politicians with real experience after the elections because so many top councillors are retiring.

The party will be thankful if it wins the new Hollingbury and Stanmer ward where three stalwarts are standing.

Tehmtan Framroze, a former mayor of Brighton, has built up considerable expertise in dealing with housing and problems faced by ethic minorities. He now represents Stanmer ward.

So does another former mayor, Pat Hawkes. She has unrivalled experience in dealing with schools and teaching.

The third contender is Jeane Lepper, who now represents Hollingbury ward and is in charge of licensing.

She has more reason than most to wish for a Labour win since she has been nominated as the next mayor.

Her husband is David Lepper, an ex-mayor and MP for Pavilion since 1997.

This ought to be a safe Labour seat but in the past both the existing Hollingbury and Stanmer wards have been won by the Tories, who are expected to be the main challengers again.

Liberal Democrats and Greens are also each putting up three candidates.

There is added interest from Ian Fyvie, standing for Socialist Labour, and from long-standing political activist Tony Greenstein, who is standing as an independent.

One of the main issues in this varied ward is likely to be the future of Stanmer Park, where the house is to be restored and a new road is proposed to serve Albion's community stadium.

Other issues include council housing, pockets of poverty and deprivation and the future of the Downs.

Candidates (three seats):

Labour - Tehmtan Framroze, Jeane Lepper, Pat Hawkes.

Conservatives - Roger McCabe, Carol Ramsden, Michael Richard Weatherley.

Liberal Democrats - Matthew James Barker, Hector Go, Ellen Woolley.

Greens - Anthony Ackroyd, Steven Robert Sorrell, Amelia Mills.

Independent - Anthony Nathan Greenstein.

Socialist Labour Party Anti-War - Ian Christopher Fyvie.