Lord John Fuller, former South Norfolk Council leader, issued the barb during a discussion in the House of Lords over plans to raise the threshold for when local authorities are required to undergo a full audit.

The proposals would mean the Broads Authority (BA) would no longer be required to conduct this higher-level review of its finances, which can be at significant costs, but would still be required to produce annual accounts.

The BA says the move could save nearly £75,000 that it spends annually on the annual audit assessment.

Lord Fuller of Gorleston-on-Sea (Image: UK Parliament)

During the discussion this week, the Conservative peer said: "We shall see a whole class of authority that would currently be within the £6.5 million but will........

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