MORE than £3m of public money would be wasted for the sake of civic vanity if the name of Durham County Council is changed during the latest local government reorganisation, it was claimed yesterday.

County Councillor John Shuttleworth said the move to rename the new unitary authority County Durham Council was a bid to appease the district councils and there was no necessity to change it.

Addressing yesterday's county council cabinet meeting, he said: "I hope efficiency savings will be top of the list when it comes to the new council reorganisation.

"So, can I have an assurance that there are no plans to change the name of the new council from Durham County Council - which the public is familiar with - to County Durham Council.

"Any change would be an expensive and unnecessary exercise in civic vanity. I calculate it would cost the council tax payer £3m plus."

He added after the meeting: "In 1974, when the last local government reorganisation took place, they kept the same name. There is no need to rename it again. It is a publicity exercise that will cost the tax payer more than £3m.

"They will have to change letterheads, liveries and signs for the council's 15,500 employees, 1,000 vehicles and 180 buildings."

County council deputy leader Councillor Clive Robson said: "The name County Durham Council has been used as a working title throughout the review process to avoid any confusion with the existing county council.

"The name of the new authority is likely to be determined by the new council, once elected, which make take soundings from other stakeholders, and high upon whose agenda will be the identification of ways of avoiding any and all unnecessary expenditure."