Labour became the first party in 20 years to win a second term in charge of Brighton and Hove City Council after narrowly beating the Greens.
The Conservatives slipped to third place.
A surge in Green support saw the party make gains from Labour and the Tories and take them to within one seat of victory.
It was tough day for the Conservatives after losing Withdean to the Greens and a seat in Rottingdean Coastal ward to an Independent as well as seats in Central Hove and Westbourne to Labour.
Rottingdean Coastal returned Bridget Fishleigh, who previously campaigned to save the Saltdean Lido.
The 54 council seats are now made up of 20 Labour, 19 Greens, 14 Conservatives and one Independent.
Labour council leader Daniel Yates said: “We are the first administration in 20 years given this responsibility again.
“This council switched and switched. We have kept the confidence of the city, given the national protest vote.
“This is a progressive city. We have seen across the city the two progressive political parties returned at the expense of the regressive Conservatives.”
Conservative group leader Tony Janio saw three recounts in his Hangleton and Knoll ward as Councillor Nick Lewry hung on by two votes.
Councillor Janio said: “If it works as it has in the last few years, the administration will put through policy with no back-room deals.
“If there are deals and a coalition, it lets the results down as the residents have said they want an even split.”
Green group convenor Phélim Mac Cafferty said: “I think what has been happening with the electorate here is what has been happening around the country.
“I’ve been optimistic throughout the day. Our manifesto was good for a lot of people who looked at the message to improve the environment.”
“It was a tough day for the Conservatives after losing Withdean to the Greens and a seat in Rottingdean Coastal ward to an Independent as well as seats in Central Hove and Westbourne to the Greens and Labour respectively.”
That paragraph needs re-writing. The Conservatives did not lose either Ward in Hove to the Greens, but Labour gained a seat in both of them. That said, the vote was close after a swift Green on-the-hoof effort by Aditi and me the past few weeks.
Meanwhile, I have always thought Rottingdean Coastal a neglected Ward. It takes in a chunk of Kemp Town; as such, it can swing variously.
The problem now is that with the loss of many longstanding Labour Councillors through retirement and the loss of Julie Cattell and Emma Daniel, have Labour got enough experience to get things done to satisfy the electorate.
I just hope They can work with the Greens to get the Citys many problems sorted.