CALLS are being made for Worcester City Council to pay more small traders on time - with a former MP pointing out its failure to join a key national charter.

Scores of organisations around the country, including local authorities, have signed up to a Government-backed scheme called the Prompt Payment Code.

It sets national standards for paying small suppliers within prompt timescales, something which can make or break many sole traders.

Former Worcester MP Mike Foster, who was the city's first ever Labour parliamentarian between 1997-2010, is behind calls for more organisations to sign up.

Mr Foster now runs a body which represents the energy and utilities sector, which has also signed up.

He says he is concerned Worcestershire County Council is part of it, but the city council has not got involved.

"The code primarily sends a message to people that as an organisation, you do your bit to improve the cash flow of those who supply you with goods and services," he said.

"Typically a supplier may be a very small business owner and cash flow is very important to them, that's what it's about.

"The face BIS back this too (the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) support it shows it's not something to take lightly.

"If it just focuses the accountants at the city council on supporting Worcester businesses to the best of their abilities, and the fact the county council has signed up, shows it's not impossible."

He said the fact several members of the county council's Conservative leadership are also involved in the city council's affairs raises "questions" about only one being signed up.

The city council has responded by pointing to its track record on paying small traders - saying just two per cent of them did not get paid within the pre-agreed timescale.

A spokesman said: "We are already adhering to a lot of the principles of the code - in the last three months 96 per cent of local suppliers were paid in less than 10 days.

"And in the last financial year 98 per cent of non-local suppliers were paid promptly, within their terms of payment."

As your Worcester News reported in June, some councillors have encouraged small traders to start paying more attention to invoices - saying some who fail to get their money on time miss out because important details are missing.