Hertsmere taxpayers will be asked later this year whether they would be willing to see the borough's leisure centres placed under the control of a new organisation.

The borough council's eight centres could be placed under new management by April next year if a new proposal is supported by residents during public consultation.

Councillors last week agreed to consider handing over management responsibility for the borough council's eight centres to a charitable trust or separate company.

The proposal is aimed at freeing the centres from strict council regulations regarding staff working hours and saving the council around £400,000 a year in rates.

Councillor John Graham, chairman of the council's leisure committee, said: 'We have now got to assess how we are going to consult, which will be part of the work we do over the summer.'

Hertsmere's Labour group is calling for public meetings in Borehamwood, Radlett, Potters Bar and Bushey, and for extensive consultation with staff at the centres.

During the leisure committee meeting on Wednesday last week, members agreed to consider three options for transferring management responsibility, as well as the prospect of keeping things the same.

The centres, including the Hawksmoor Centre and The Venue in Borehamwood, could be placed under the control of a separate contractor, possibly formed by existing leisure staff.

The final option is for the management to be carried out by a charitable trust, which would be able to claim relief from the payment of non-domestic rates.

Although Conservative councillors claim public consultation on the issue was always planned to take place, Labour members claimed a victory after last week's meeting.

Councillor Joe Goldberg said: 'We are pleased that, with the support of the Liberal Democrats, we forced the majority group to go out to consultation.'

The Labour group, which claims the council has been successful in running the leisure centres, also pressed the Conservatives to consider no change.

It is worried that, if an outside company takes over the management, the prices of the services provided at the centres could rise in order to increase profit.

Discussions with staff will take place between now and the leisure committee's next meeting in September, when a method of public consultation will be established.

Meanwhile, the issue of whether to transfer responsibility will be discussed by Hertsmere Borough Council at its meeting on Wednesday.