Carmarthenshire County Council is failing to react to the economic crisis, local politicians have claimed.
MP Adam Price and AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas have spoken out after recent figures show the council trailing behind the national average for paying its bills on time.
The pair fear delaying payments will have a knock-on effect of stopping local business from accessing vital cash resources.
Councils are expected to pay their bills within 30 days. The national average for councils hitting that target in Wales was 87% whilst the Labour-Independent run Carmarthenshire County Council was the fifth worst performing in the country at 81%.
"With the current financial situation putting a lot of strain on the local economy I would have thought that the council would make it a real priority to ensure that their bills are paid as quickly as possible to ensure local companies have ready access to funds," said Mr Price.
"Any delay will only increase the pressure on local businesses, especially the small and medium-size ones."
Mr Thomas expressed fears such delays would impact on the local economy."
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