THE leader of the city council’s Green Party will move wards to take on a senior councillor in this year’s local elections, the Oxford Mail can reveal.

David Thomas, who currently represents the Holywell ward for the Greens, will take on Labour’s executive board member for community safety, Tom Hayes, in St Clement’s.

Dr Thomas claimed Mr Hayes is a 'yes man'; Mr Hayes said the Green Party councillor will be abandoning his ward. Both won their wards in 2014.

The councillors have clashed at council meetings over a number of issues, including homelessness.

Dr Thomas said: “I’m standing to offer voters a clear choice between a 'yes' man, or an effective and genuine scrutiny of decisions made in this city.

"The Greens have achieved this by challenging Oxford Labour on how they’ve treated homeless people, air quality and affordable home but it’s vital we keep at it.”

“Labour councillors are forced to vote the way they are told, even it that’s not in St Clement’s or Oxford’s best interests.”

But Mr Hayes said: “I’m committed to my neighbours. I could never abandon my community to stand for council in a part of town that I don’t know.

“St Clement’s is my home and I’m working with my neighbours to rise to overcome the challenges we share – ending public drug dealing and burglaries, cleaning up our dirty air, bringing back our Cowley Road Post Office, clearing away unwanted graffiti, installing new street lights, stopping speeding on our narrow roads and expanding cycling infrastructure.”

The Greens have been critical over the use of community protection notices which can be used to threaten people with hefty fines if not followed correctly. Mr Hayes is currently leading a council review into their use.

St Clement’s ward includes Cowley Road and South Park.

Holywell includes the estates of several Oxford colleges, including Christ Church.

All voters in the city council's area will be asked to go to the polls on May 3. The council has 48 seats, with 24 wards with two seats in each. A seat in each ward will be contested this year.   

All 32 London boroughs, 34 metropolitan boroughs and 68 district or borough councils’ elections will also be held then.