A move to change the name of Tewkesbury Borough Council has been rescheduled to 2025, with the council waiting to consider whether the change will be cost effective after an expected devolution of powers.
The council voted to change its name to North Gloucestershire Borough Council in September 2024, with a view to better representing all of its towns and communities; avoiding confusion between Tewkesbury town and the wider borough; and to raise its profile regionally and nationally, in order to attract more investment and drive economic growth.
The phased name change — which was approved following consultation with local residents and businesses — was set to begin in December 2024, but has been rescheduled until March 2025 due to the delay in publication of an anticipated government white paper on devolution, which was initially due in November 2024.
The council says it wants to consider how the white paper — which is expected to outline the transfer of powers from central government to local authorities — will impact on its finances, before committing to the name change and its associated costs, such as changing its logo on physical assets, as well as across its website and social media channels.
Leader of the council, Richard Stanley said: 'When deciding to change our name, we made it clear that it would be done with a phased approach at a minimal cost.
'If the government’s white paper mandates that Gloucestershire’s local government structure requires reorganisation in the next two to three years, then we recognise that changing our name now would not be an efficient use of funds.
'When we have the details of the white paper and understand the implications for our council, we will update on our plans — with our current view being that we aim to launch our new name in March if there is no impact on us.'
