WHAT'S in a name?

Poole People Party leader Mark Howell has called for clarity with regard to the official naming of the new 'super council'.

The Borough of Poole councillor, who represents the Poole Town Centre ward, wants confirmation about when the new authority will be named, and if current members of the shadow authority - essentially all serving members of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch councils - will be able to have their say on the issue.

The new council is due to come into being in April along with a separate unitary authority for rural Dorset.

In an email to Cllr Janet Walton - leader of the new shadow authority executive committee - he asks for clarification on three points:

n what work is being carried out to identify names.

n what is the latest date that an alternative name to 'Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole' can be adopted in order to meet branding deadlines for the marketing of the new authority.

n will members of the shadow authority be given an opportunity to vote on the public facing name before that date? If so, when?

Cllr Howell believes that as no timetable has been provided, it is the intention of the shadow executive to call the new authority 'Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.'

He also says Cllr Walton had previously promised Poole councillors that the public facing name of the new authority would not include any of the names - Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole.

However, Cllr Walton said: “Members of the joint committee agreed to the name Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council being included in the Structural Changes Order at their meeting in December.

"This is the council’s legal name and will be used in all material relating to the new council.

"Once elections have been held on May 2, 201, should the new members wish to reconsider the name this would be a matter for the new BCP Council."