Have your say on Northumberland County Council name

Nov 20 2008 by Dave Black, The Journal

PEOPLE across Northumberland are being urged to have their say on the vexed question of what their new super council should be called – as public consultation starts this morning.

Yesterday Conservative councillors urged residents to support the retention of the name Northumberland County Council – saying any change will mean unnecessary costs when the new unitary authority is facing £55m budget cuts.

County council Tory group leader Peter Jackson said a change would also add to confusion over the town halls shake-up and lead to a loss of identity.

But Coun Jeff Reid, leader of the county’s Liberal Democrat administration, said his personal preference was for the title Northumberland Council, as the new organisation required a new name to reflect the fresh start in local government.

From today people can vote on which of the names should be chosen when the new authority replaces the existing county council and the six district councils in April.

It has been claimed changing the name to Northumberland Council could cost up to £4m, but yesterday County Hall bosses said that was “absolute rubbish”. They say it will only cost £27,000 to re-brand council vehicles and signs using temporary stickers by April 1.

Last night Coun Jackson said: “I have been given that figure as a best estimate but I am hugely sceptical, as experience of these things shows that it normally costs an awful lot more than that.

“It is also clear people have real concerns about losing their identity within the county. Changing the name of the council is unnecessary and there are far more important issues to be addressing.”

Coun Reid said: “People are being given a choice between the two names and, as an administration, we have not taken a collective view. Personally, I am in favour of Northumberland Council because this is a completely new organisation which is taking over from seven existing councils.

“This is a new start but if the public thinks a new council should have an old council’s name then I will support that. The cost of this has always been a red herring. We have to change all the district councils whatever it is called and we can do that by putting stickers over the existing signs.”

From today, questionnaires will be sent to all 1,000 members of the county’s Citizens’ Panel while members of the public will be able to comment via www.northumberland.gov.uk Employees of all seven councils to be abolished can take part through the council intranet.