Windsor and Maidenhead council are facing ‘slash and burn’ cuts

Stephen Evans, the council’s chief executive, told a meeting last week that the authority was facing an “existential crisis”.

He said issuing a Section 114 notice would result in councilors “losing control” and “(government) commissioners going in and making decisions”.

Elizabeth Griffiths, executive director of resources at the council, said: ‘It’s going to be people who don’t know the area, don’t know the services, don’t know the locals, don’t know the councilors, know the staff, come in and quickly take more removed decisions.

‘The most important thing is the idea that we need to increase council tax.

‘We cannot make further cuts – where we are now is a consequence of the cuts made in the past.

“Without a significant financial injection, there is simply no way out.”

Communities Minister Matthew Pennycook told the House of Commons last week: “The Government certainly recognizes the pressure on local authorities and the burden placed on households as a result of fourteen years of local government decline.

“We are determined to turn that situation around.”