MALVERN Hills District Council will again be at the centre an intense political battle on election day.

The capture of control of the authority by the Conservatives was one of the highlights for party in the region in 2000, but it will again face a strong challenge, from the Liberal Democrats in particular.

Since the last election, the council has had to face a series of major decisions to weigh on the minds of voters.

Perhaps the highest profile was the debate over the future of Malvern Theatres.

The Malvern Gazette broke the news of behind closed doors negotiations between the council and Ambassador Theatre Group for a takeover of the venue last year.

Ambassador was offering to pay off the overspend on the theatres' refurbishment project in return for the right to run the venue but there was strong reaction against an outside commercial operator.

The Forum at Malvern Theatres was packed for a public meeting called by the Gazette to debate the issue and the audience delivered a strong vote of confidence in the present management.

Ambassador subsequently pulled out of talks and the council opted instead to use its reserves to pay off the debt and refinance the venue around the existing management.

One issue still unresolved is suggestions of a move to new purpose-built council headquarters and the sale of the various current council buildings around Great Malvern.

Sites including the council depot in Pickersleigh Road have been suggested for the new building and the project has been costed at £4.6 million.

However, the council's future is itself uncertain as an impending shake-up of local government could result in its abolition, and that has been one of the arguments against the move.

Equally controversial has been attempts to finance a new sports hall for Malvern.

When the public were asked how to spend the Malvern Millions, the proceeds of the sale of council houses to Elgar Housing Association, a sports centre was high on the list.

The council failed to finance a proposed new sports hall in Priory Road and instead has opted to spend funds on upgrading facilities at Dyson Perrins CE High School, which would be available to the public when not in use by the school.

The level of Council Tax is also an issue. In 2001, the council increased its demand by 27.6 per cent, the third highest increase in the country. That was followed by a rise of 7.5 per cent in 2002 and four per cent this year.

Meanwhile the work continues, the redevelopment of North Site and the construction of hundreds of new homes is likely to be a key issue for the newly elected council. There is also the on-going debate on the need for a new Malvern Hospital and the relocation of doctors' surgeries, discussions in which the auth-ority will have a major part to play whichever party wins on May 1.

l The Pickersleigh Road depot site is a favoured location for any new council headquarters.