The RA’s former leader described the defeat of his bitter political rival as “a good moment for the council.”

Robert Leach, who stood down as a councillor from his Auriol Ward seat earlier this year, made the comments after the defeat of Tory leader Sean Sullivan at the council elections on Friday.

The two men clashed regularly in council meetings at the Town Hall, with Mr Sullivan frequently accusing his counterpart of lying and obscuring information.

They have also locked horns repeatedly on social media site Twitter.

Mr Leach, who cheered along with his colleagues after Mr Sullivan lost his Woodcote seat, said he would not miss their council battles.

He said: “I don’t normally gloat about people losing their seats but I believe his conduct was such that the council will be a much better place without him.

“I don’t feel like that about any other councillor.”

The news of Mr Sullivan’s defeat was greeted with cheers from RA candidates.

He had been a vocal critic of many of their policies including the introduction of charges for Blue Badge holders and the closure of public toilets.

Conservative campaigner James Tarbitt said that he had done a brilliant job holding the ruling party to account.

He said: “Senior RA figures came up to me after the result and said what a good job Sean had done.

“He was a combative figure in holding the RA to account and was particularly critical or Mr Leach who he thought had made bad decisions.

“Sean was very hard-working and he will be sorely missed.”

RA councillor Neil Dallen said that Mr Sullivan had been a thorn in the side of the ruling party.

He said: “He played the game hard and that got people’s backs up.

“Sometimes he made personal jibes - but to criticise anyone who has given up their time to serve their community after their defeat is unfair.”