Posted on: 3 September 2024
Tewkesbury Borough Council has voted to change its name to North Gloucestershire Borough Council, following consultation with residents, businesses, town and parish councils, and other partners.
The decision, made during an Extraordinary Council meeting required a two-thirds majority of those voting for it to pass. Tonight, Tuesday, 3 September, saw councillors voting (26 for and eight against) to reflect their constituents’ views, and marks a significant step in enhancing the borough’s identity and ensuring greater representation for all communities in the area.
The name change is set to be implemented from December 2024, aligning with a broader strategy to create a stronger geographic identity that better reflects the entire borough, which covers 160 square miles and encompasses many towns and villages including Bishop’s Cleeve, Churchdown, Highnam and Brockworth. Tewkesbury parish accounts for under 3% of the borough’s geographical area and around 10% of its population.
Rationale behind the change
The decision to explore a name change originated from discussions on the new Council Plan, where concerns were raised about the outdated nature of the current logo and the confusion between Tewkesbury Town and the wider borough. The name “North Gloucestershire Borough Council” was chosen as it more accurately represents the borough’s geographic location and its many communities, and it avoids prioritising Tewkesbury Town over other areas.
Cllr Richard Stanley, Leader of Tewkesbury Borough Council, said: “This name change is about ensuring that all communities within our borough feel represented and included, something that many felt was not the case with the name ‘Tewkesbury Borough Council’.
“The name North Gloucestershire Borough Council will help us to raise our profile both regionally and nationally, promoting economic development and attracting investment, while maintaining our unique identity as a borough. It will demonstrate our support for the entire borough, and show every resident that we are their council.
“In case there is any doubt, Tewkesbury town will retain its name and its position as a historically rich and culturally significant location.
“I’m proud to say that we will be keeping costs to an absolute minimum and making the introduction of our new name as smooth as possible for our residents and businesses.”
Public consultation and feedback
At a meeting of Council in May 2024, councillors were ‘minded to’ change the council’s name, subject to a public consultation so that stakeholders could provide feedback and raise any suggestions, as well as share views on logo options. Members of the public, local businesses, town and parish councils, and other partners and interested parties submitted feedback to share their views.
The 10-week consultation, held from 17 May to 31 July 2024, gathered 1,608 responses – one of the most extensive consultation the council has ever conducted. The results showed that more than 86.26% of respondents understood the rationale behind the proposed name change, and 58.64% expressed their support for the change.
Next steps
With the name change approved, the council will begin a phased rollout starting in December 2024. Initial steps include:
- Informing the Secretary of State and other relevant authorities of the name change.
- Updating digital assets, including the council’s website and email addresses.
- Informing residents and businesses about the change and its benefits.
- Gradually updating physical assets, such as signage and bins, during their normal maintenance schedules.
A new logo, chosen during the public consultation, will also be introduced as part of the rebranding.
