The recent internal audit found Thetford Town Council - which counts Terry Jermy, the local Labour MP, among its members - has "excessively low balances" and urged it to reassess its investments.

The council has been under fierce criticism from locals for several months over the handling of its finances after it unanimously voted to declare a "climate emergency" and commit £30,000 of its funds to combat the issue.

However, councillors have dismissed the warnings of the auditor as "isolated items" and maintain the authority is "well run".

Terry Jermy, MP for South West Norfolk, sits on Thetford Town Council (Image: Terry Jermy) The audit report has been seized upon by critics angered at the climate change spending, agreed unanimously by members in February 2024, which they claim is a poor use of resources for a town council.

The decision to declare a climate emergency included a commitment for all council meetings and committees to consider carbon and ecological impacts of decisions made wherever relevant, and for funds to be set aside........

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