They have had an iron grip on Hampshire County Council and its £1 billion budget for years.
And the Conservatives are confident of retaining their crown as kings of the Castle council headquarters when county residents head to the polling booths next week.
The ruling Tories, led by veteran Councillor Ken Thornber, go into the local elections with a strong majority, holding 51 of the 78 seats available.
But the party aims to tighten their stranglehold further still at the authority’s Winchester HQ – and even “expect” to gain seats from all opposition groups.
Battle lines will once again be drawn with the Liberal Democrats, the second largest group on the council, under the leadership of Eastleigh Borough Council supremo Keith House.
This year they face a fresh challenge from UKIP, which has a candidate for nearly every division in the county for the first time. They are also riding high after coming second in the Eastleigh by-election, pushing the Tories into third.
Tory communications chief and Chandler’s Ford councillor Colin Davidovitz, believes a different picture will emerge at local level.
He said: “UKIP has shown that it will replace the Lib Dems as the party for a protest vote on national issues but we don’t believe that it will have such an impact on local issues as it has little to offer in this direction.”
“Currently Conservatives have strong representation on the county council and because of their excellent record we expect to gain seats from all opposition groups. “Hampshire is not a one party state – it is held to account by Liberal Democrat, Labour and independent members.”
The party said its election campaigning would focus on efforts to keep council tax low, improve front line services and invest in infrastructure over the next four years.
Cllr Davidovitz added: “The main issues for Conservatives will be to relieve the pressure on residents by keeping council tax low and protecting and improving front line services for vulnerable children and people with disabilities, improving the lot of the frail elderly in our county, our transport infrastructure, education, our countryside, our cultural offer for the arts libraries and museums.
“We want to promote jobs, as we will train and employ one thousand new apprentices, and promote economic growth by the investment of £600 million into infrastructure projects across the county over the next four years.”
They have also defended making deep cuts two years before the election, claiming they took “early action” to account for reductions in council tax and Government grants.
Cllr Davidovitz said this action included merging big departments as well as freezing staff pay, councillor allowances and recruitment.
He also pointed to the reduction of the council’s estate from 73 office establishments to eight office hubs and IT assisted home working which freed up £15m a year for front line services.
Voters go to the polling booth on Thursday, May 2.
