A year ago, few had heard of Lynette Gwyn-Jones, the Labour councillor in charge of Brighton and Hove Council's finances.

Now you can't keep her out of the headlines as she gives her trenchant views on how the police must do more to move on recalcitrant Travellers and how Sita, the rubbish clearance company, must clean up its act.

It will soon be a year since Coun Gwyn-Jones was elected council leader to succeed Lord Bassam when he was appointed a junior Home Office Minister.

The contrast can hardly be greater. He is a politician by instinct; the man who helped bring Labour from a fractious opposition party to the natural ruling group of Brighton and Hove.

Coun Gwyn-Jones is an academic figure who studies policy in detail before making comment.

Coun Gwyn-Jones said: "It took me some time to find a style for dealing with the media. It came naturally to Steve. I was experienced but I was dealing with finance, which was not always very sexy."

It has been a tough year for the new council leader who was left with a modest majority after the 1999 elections, three opposition parties and a rebellious collection of backbenchers.

There was constant griping over the council's new one-party cabinet system, which was defeated in May as members wanted a return to the old-style committees.

The appointment of Sita to undertake all street cleaning and rubbish collection has also caused problems.

Travellers - a perennial problem in Brighton and Hove - were more numerous and troublesome than ever this summer with the council constantly accused of inaction.

Yet the council's stance on all three issues is justifiable.

The Government has passed the Local Government Act, which means all councils can pursue the system pioneered in Brighton and Hove.

Sita seems to be settling to business and it makes sense to have one company, rather than three, to deal with rubbish.

The Government's new policy on travellers, respecting their rights while moving them on where they cause a nuisance, is remarkably similar to the one pursued in Brighton and Hove.

None of this impresses Conservative opposition leader Geoffrey Theobald, who said: "Leading councillors have failed to tackle important issues such as travellers and rubbish collection. If they do not take action, they should resign."

There have even been murmurings within her own group. One member said: "She will not speak out and she won't allow other people good at communication to do it for her."

But another insider said: "She works incredibly hard and she has integrity."

Despite patient talks, the council has had to draw attention to a difference of position with the police over travellers and point out Sita's problems were not just teething troubles.

But Coun Gwyn-Jones feels progress is being made on these fronts.

But Lynette Gwyn-Jones, although tired after taking no summer holiday, is now enjoying her high profile position. Few people haven't heard of her now.