According to a study by the Asset Based Finance Association (ABFA), the body representing the asset-based finance industry in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, local councils are currently paying their suppliers in an average of 17 days.
However, in July 2010, central government departments were ordered to pay 80 per cent of invoices within five days. This followed an earlier reduction to ten-day payment terms in October 2008, in which local councils were encouraged to follow the example set by central government.
The ABFA research reveals that local government has failed to fall into line with central government guidance, with the average wait for payment from local authorities virtually unchanged from 17.7 days in 2009/10 to 17.3 days in 2013/14.
The ABFA says that its research found that some local councils are even failing to make payments to their suppliers within the 30-day payment period mandated by the Late Payment of Commercial Debt Act, which came into force in March 2013.
The ABFA adds that the average wait for payment is still in excess of 40 days for some local authorities.
Jeff Longhurst, chief executive of the ABFA says, ‘Public sector organisations should be acting as role models for the private sector in paying their invoices as promptly as possible.
‘Central government bodies have performed well in hitting their prompt payment targets – many now pay more than 90 per cent of their invoices within five days. The current average of 17 days for local councils leaves a lot of room for improvement.
‘Those that fail to pay within 30 days risk damaging businesses in their local areas.’
The ABFA adds that SMEs are often hit twice by waits for payment when working on subcontracted projects for local authorities, as they have to wait for both the council and the main contractor to pass on payment.
Recent research by the ABFA found that businesses with a turnover under £1 million have to wait an average of 71 days to receive payment.
‘Smaller businesses brought in as subcontractors on projects for local councils are particularly vulnerable to delays in payment. As the third link in the payment chain, they often end up waiting months for their invoices to be settled,’ says Longhurst.
‘Local authorities need to make sure they are adding as little as possible to that wait by paying as promptly as possible and also in persuading their main contractors to pay their sub contractors quickly.’
Further reading on late payment
