New council logo needed to ‘legitimise’ unitary ahead of April launch date

The unitary’s visual identity and logo will be rolled out in January, with the deputy leader of the shadow council that is helping to set it up saying that it is a key part of the engagement process with residents.

Councillor Jonathan Nunn, who is also leader of Northampton Borough Council, said: “A large part of our work is rebranding. It’s often viewed cynically, but it’s important because it shows what the council stands for.

“While there might not be a mad rush to replace the logos on the bins, we do need to be mindful that staff may be going to health settings, or for hygiene regulations at a restaurant, or visiting a child who needs care. They will need identifiable badges that people can recognise instantly as being legitimate and not being a fraud. So that’s why it’s so important we have a recognisable brand.”

Residents had the chance to vote for a choice of three logos during a consultation in August. The cost of the designs is not yet known, but Councillor Nunn said they had been done in house to try and keep costs ‘modest’. It is expected the winning design will be the one used in the January branding launch.

The new unitary will effectively see the current county council, as well as the district and borough councils in Northampton, Daventry and South Northamptonshire abolished. The services will then be offered under one roof at the much larger unitary council.

Councillor Nunn added: “Change can be very unsettling. There’s a great deal going on and things are really changing so we have that duty to communicate effectively with people who have an absolute right to know what’s going on and what the impact on them will be. Our greatest implication is the potential risk that staff or residents don’t feel engaged and do not feel they know what is going on.”