Families could be forced to pay for more services if the Conservatives win the Three Rivers election in May.

There are just two seats between the Liberal Democrat administration and the Tory opposition.

And the Conservative leader in the district says the council could charge for services if they win power in May.

Cllr Ralph Sangster vowed to ask people what services are valued most and these would be kept free of charge.

But the Tories would consider charges for services deemed less important and large projects may be scrapped in a bid to get control of spending.

Three Rivers District Council introduced an annual £35 charge if residents want their green waste to be collected by the authority.

He said: “Where there are services which the public rely on, and they think should be free, they will remain so.

“But there are services that are being provided where we do not recover as much as we might be able to.

“We should ask the residents about what we could charge a small additional fee to bridge the gap between costs and what we bring in.”

In 2015 the Liberal Democrat group lost overall control of the council. This meant the group were still the largest on the council, but could have seen their policies defeated if Labour councillors sided with the Tories.

“We want to review the organisational structure of the council and the pay banding for the managers.

“When we were a bigger organisation we were paying people more money. But now we have sold the housing stock and outsourcing the leisure services, and we are still paying the same amount.

“That is perhaps something we can look at.”

The Conservatives say they will focus on boosting the economy in Three Rivers, while trying to cut spending on major projects.

Cllr Sangster added: “Their capital programme is eye-watering. There are plans to spend £9 million as part of the new budget, which is ridiculous.

“Most of the decision’s regarding the budgets gets taken behind closed doors.

“We will look to bring them out in the open and have a proper dialogue with the residents.”

The Conservatives are targeting winning three seats in Oxhey Hall and Hayling, Penn and Mill End and Gade Valley.