Windsor and Maidenhead faces financial challenges that will be familiar to all in the sector – chiefly mounting demand for social care and rising levels of inflation.

An in-year budget overspend projected to reach £7.3m is on course to be reduced to £3.6m. However, Windsor and Maidenhead has little room for manoeuvre with available reserves standing at just £10.2m – believed to be the lowest of any unitary council in the country – and a looming budget gap of £6.2m awaiting in 2024-25.