Keighley’s MP is demanding action by the town council as controversy continues to rage over its finances.

Kris Hopkins is calling on the local authority to open up its books for scrutiny by an independent accountant, to verify the current financial position and liabilities.

He also wants councillors to agree an emergency budget, detailing how debts will be addressed.

And as there is presently no public body to which the town council is accountable, he feels Bradford Council should take on the role.

In an unprecedented move, Mr Hopkins has written to town clerk Miggy Bailey outlining his proposed action plan.

He said: “I have watched the town council’s activities during the past year and each meeting seems to get more and more dysfunctional.

“I am not making aspersions but there is now a lack of trust among members and that has got to be rebuilt.

“By taking these steps, I believe the town council will go a long way to reassuring local residents that it is serious about correcting its mistakes of recent times, and is capable of playing a positive and leading role in Keighley in the coming years.”

Town councillors sparked fury in February when they approved a record 72.6 per cent hike in the council tax precept, largely to help prop up their ailing civic centre project. Earlier this month it was revealed the North Street centre is more than £162,000 in the red from its first year in operation.

Mr Hopkins said the ongoing negative publicity surrounding the town council’s finances was “causing great damage to the reputation of Keighley and must be brought to a swift and satisfactory conclusion”.

“These issues need to be resolved and the books opened up to scrutiny. The town council cannot do nothing.”

Mr Hopkins said he was happy to work alongside the council to achieve the aims, but is awaiting a full response.

The town council said the clerk had been in contact with the Yorkshire Local Councils Associations and National Association of Local Councils regarding Mr Hopkins’ letter, but that it has no response to make at this stage.