Cash strapped Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council could have emergency spending controls imposed on it if planned savings do not prove enough to ease its financial pressures.

Terry Neaves, the Royal Borough's '151 officer', has warned in a report to councillors that they face a tipping point in 2021/22 if their reserves become any more depleted.

Theoretically this could lead to a 'section 114' notice being issued by him, banning the authority from any new expenditure other than mandatory services for protecting vulnerable people.

Lynne Jones, (Old Windsor: Independent) - the leader of the council's opposition independent councillors, said: “The fact that by 2021 we could be in a position to issue a section 114 is unimaginable considering we were told everything was fine.

“If anything should come out of this, it’s probably that the political and cabinet system does not work.”

Councillor David Hilton (Conservative: Ascot and Sunninghill), the ruling Conservatives' lead member for finance, said it will be extremely unlikely that a section 114 notice will be placed.

He said: “It would be crazy to implement a 114 - not that it will happen.

“The council is fully aware of its financial position and we will continue to support our older people, children service and all of the other services we provide in the borough through our transformation programme."

The Royal Borough is planning to make £6million worth of cuts in the coming year - leading to concerns from opposition councillors that services to the vulnerable could suffer.

Planned savings include terminating its contract with the Ways into Work community interest company, which has been helping people with disabilities in the borough into work.

It is planned to bring the service 'in house'.

It is also planned to 'streamline' youth and early years services into fewer venues.

Mr Neaves' report emphasises though that the Royal Borough could manage the risks if it followed its budget strategy or received further Government funding for events that were outside its control.

The final budget form 2020/2021 will be agreed at a full council meeting on February 25.