THE Minister for Local Government stopped off in Dudley South today (Monday) to launch the Conservative Party's bid to win back control of Dudley Council.

Marcus Jones, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, gave a rousing speech at Hickory's Smokehouse in Wall Heath where Dudley's Tory group were launching their local election campaign.

The Minister, who is also MP for Nuneaton, told members he is "absolutely convinced" he will be returning to greet a Conservative council after the local election on May 5.

He told supporters: "I know that in just a few weeks this Conservative group is on the cusp of taking control back of the council.

"I know you've got some solid plans to transform services so you can retain as many frontline services as possible and make sure local people aren't paying more council tax than they need to - and I know you've got some solid plans to support business."

Mr Jones, who used to work for a Cradley Heath firm called Berry King - selling goods to convenience stores, told the News: "People have got the chance to change who is in control of Dudley Council. The Conservatives are pledging to keep the council tax low, to provide better services, to maintain the roads in a better way and keep the streets cleaner. It's really important that Dudley has a strong council with people who are business oriented and want to do all they can to save local services.

"I'm very confident Patrick and his team can deliver.

"I would say the Conservatives have a very strong chance of becoming the largest group on the council. They are working extremely hard on the doorstep and only a few weeks ago they won the by-election in Kingswinford North and Wall Heath.

"I'm confident they can have a great deal of success and be in control of the council on May 6."

He also encouraged members to help Stourbridge councillor and former council leader Les Jones to achieve victory in the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner election which falls on the same day as the local election.

Cllr Jones, aged 60, who is also fighting to retain his Pedmore and Stourbridge East council seat which he has held for 17 years, said: "I'm asking for people to vote for me on two ballot papers."

Meanwhile - Dudley's Conservative leader, councillor Patrick Harley, said: "This is a really important election. This is the only election between now and 2018. If the Conservatives are to gain control of Dudley Council it has to be now. We can't afford to wait another two years. We have exiting plans and we'll be unleashing a whole raft of policies that really reward local businesses and tradespeople."

He said, if elected, the Conservatives would look to introduce free parking on council car parks and offer a different delivery model to help maintain frontline services at a more affordable cost.

Among the party's variety of new candidates standing for election on May 5 are disability rights campaigner Ceri Davies whose charitable group More Mascots Please is one of the Mayor of Dudley's chosen charities this year.

The 26-year-old former Halesowen College student, who set up the organisation to help disabled, disadvantaged and terminally ill youngsters, said: "I'm really delighted to be standing for the Conservatives as they see my ability not my disability. I believe in supporting community and supporting enterprise and local businesses - and my wish is to represent everybody in Brierley Hill."

She said she's particularly interested in adult and children's social care and added: "I hope to make some positive changes."

Other new candidates for Dudley Conservatives include Luke Johnson, who is standing in Kingswinford South where Dudley South Tory grandee - councillor David Blood - is retiring; Donna Barras, who is standing in Kingswinford North and Wall Heath; Neil Watts who is standing in Upper Gornal and Woodsetton; and Stourbridge businessman Angus Lees who is standing in Pedmore as Dudley South MP Mike Wood is relinquishing the council seat he won two years ago.

Wayne Sullivan is standing in St James's ward just weeks after suffering defeat in the recent by-election, former Gornal councillor David Stanley is making a bid to win back his council seat, former Labour campaigner turned Tory Kamran Razzaq is hoping to win in Wordsley, and former deputy mayor Sue Greenaway is hoping for success in Brockmoor and Pensnett after losing to Labour in last year's local election.

Leader of Dudley Council, councillor Pete Lowe, however, said the controlling Labour group remains confident it will "be able to hold onto the council" and he added: "We've made significant inroads with regards to community council and a number of initiatives to bring democracy closer to the doorstep. We're proud of our record and we'll be launching a positive campaign about what we've achieved."