Bedford Borough Council needs to ensure that it makes prompt payments to its suppliers, according to Conservative Cllr Roger Rigby.
A recent Bedfordshire on Sunday report revealed that in 2013/14 the Council withheld over 7,000 payments to suppliers that should have been paid within the 30 day period recommended by the Government. This was a staggering 64% increase on the year before which the Council attributed to the need to make enquiries with the suppliers.
Cllr Rigby also hit out at the Labour Party for raising this issue in the local media instead of working with the 3 Councillors who sit on the Mayor’s Executive to address the issue.
Cllr Rigby said:
‘Many of the Council’s suppliers are local small and medium sized businesses who have struggled in the harsh economic climate in recent years. These businesses are reliant on their cash flow so it is essential that their customers, including the Council, make prompt payments.
‘I was surprised to see that the Labour Party raised this issue in the local press when the Council has a joint Labour and Liberal Democrat administration. If they were really keen to stop this happening all they needed to do was phone their Labour colleagues on the Executive and ask them to end this immoral practice.’