The Royal Borough residents could face two nasty shocks - the loss of a parking discount with their Advantage Cards and a Council Tax rise over 2020 and 2021.

A report due to go before Windsor and Maidenhead councillors next Tuesday warns that savings of nearly £6million need to be made.

Community warden numbers could see a reduction, green waste bin subscriptions could be increased to £65 a year - and a second parking permit is likely to be charged at £50 and £70.

However, there will be discounted permits for pensioners and owners of electric vehicles.

Council tax could go up by 1.99 per cent with the adult social care precept to rise to two per cent, making an overall increase of 3.99 percent if approved.

Subsidies to bus routes will be reviewed or even scrapped.

Opposition councillor Lynne Jones from Old Windsor Residents’ Association who is leader of the Independents on the council, hit out this week, blaming the situation on financial mismanagement by the ruling Tories.

She said: “I have to say it’s the first truthful budget we had for years.

“I have been saying for four years now that this was going to happen.

“It’s a £12 million black hole in the Borough's finances.

“In 2015 the demand in children services showed this was something that would increase quite drastically over the next few years.

“So of course, the budget has not kept up.”

Councillor David Hilton (Conservative: Ascot and Sunninghill), the lead member for finance, said the council's adult and children social care has been under spending pressure due to a growing demand.

He said: “We have a financial responsibility to support these vulnerable people and children.

“We have predicted a £2 million overspent that shows the increase cost around supporting children and it is unsustainable.

“We do provide excellent service for those who need it.

“We are going to facilitate the resources into the most areas of need."

The report claims the council cash reserves are low which means the council has less time and fewer options to bring its budget into balance.

On Twitter, Councillor Geoff Hill (Oldfield: The Borough First) called on cabinet members to 'give up their allowances and work for free to dig RBWM out of this hole'.

With the full budget yet to be released, the communities overview and scrutiny panel will meet on January 28 to discuss the papers.