A DRAGON will feature on the branding for Somerset Council when it launches next year, it has been confirmed today.
Council services will badged by a white dragon's head inside a teal pentagon that represents the five councils set to be replaced by the new unitary authority.
The mythical creature also appears on the county's coat of arms. The branding was designed by an in-house team from the county council and Sedgemoor and South Somerset district councils.
It was approved at a meeting of the county council's executive on Wednesday, December 14 and will appear on council services from April, when the unitary authority launches.
Councillor Bill Revans, leader of Somerset County Council, said: “We obviously need to clearly identify the services of the new council – it’s important that residents know where their council tax goes – but we have been at pains to develop and implement the new brand as economically as possible.
“This is a challenging time for council finances, and we have to make sure we are spending taxpayers’ money as wisely as possible.”
The branding will first appear where the council has a legal responsibility to identify itself as the provider of services, from council tax statements to parking signs.
It will be rolled out gradually, meaning the existing branding for the county and district councils may be visible around Somerset for some time.
Cllr Revans said: “We will also rebrand key council services such as customer service points, libraries and waste trucks and have made an allowance in our budget for the local government reorganisation.
“Fortunately, the cost of new waste truck livery is included in our agreement with our contractors.
“We will keep costs down by avoiding a ‘big bang’ approach and rolling out the new brand gradually.”
The design team has worked to make the new brand clear and accessible. It has used the Atkinson Hyperlegible font designed with the Braille Institute in the US.
The design team has also created topographical outlines of 12 Somerset landmarks such as Glastonbury Tor and Knowle Hill for council publications.
New landmarks designs will be created in the next few years in response to residents' suggestions.
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