Oxygen scheme to boost business

OLDHAM Council has been piloting an early-payment scheme which could generate £2million over the next four years.

The electronic payment system enables the local authority to pay suppliers early in exchange for a dicount.

The system ensures a return of a minimum one per cent of the value of each invoice.

The council’s finance chief revealed £73m is being put through the programme, calling it a “more efficient” way of doing things.