Commercial tenants from council-owned trading estates and shops who pay rent invoices at a cash desk or by post have been highlighted as late or non-payers by officials bidding to stamp out outstanding debt.

Direct Debit is to be phased in as a new way of collecting the cash after the council revealed 18 per cent - £266,940 - of its £1.4 million annual rent revenue had not been paid earlier this summer.

The scheme will be introduced in stages beginning in November when tenants on the Rushock Trading Estate will be invited to pay by Direct Debit, which council officials feel is cheaper than cheques and safer than cash.

About 15 per cent of these tenants are expected to take up the invitation, which would lead to an estimated six per cent reduction in outstanding debt.

The new payment method will be made a condition of occupation for all new commercial tenants, although existing ones will not be forced into it.

It will cost £3,000 to implement and be paid for out of existing budgets.

A report to the council's overview and scrutiny committee said: "A stringent attitude needs to be adopted against commercial debtors in order to permanently reduce the outstanding debt.

"In the event of a Direct Debit not being honoured, the council would be informed automatically - other collection remedies could then be instigated immediately."

If the "trial run" on the Rushock Trading Estate proves successful, the system will be extended to the Hoobrook Enterprise Centre, Acorn Enterprise Centre and Lax Lane Craft Centre in February next year.

Subject to "clarification and research" into the success of the first two phases, Direct Debit will be extended to all other commercial properties three months later.