Consultation on the name of the single unitary authority opens on November 20.

At a full council meeting on October 9, members of Northumberland's transition authority agreed to seek the views of the public and staff before making a final decision on a name for the new unitary authority.

On announcing details of the consultation exercise, the authority said it is making sure residents have the facts to make an informed decision.

Coun Ian Tompkins, chairman of the council, said: "Local government reorganisation is not about Northumberland County Council absorbing the district councils.

"The county and district councils will cease to exist and will be replaced by a single new authority with new standards and new ways of doing things.

"That is why I feel it is important that the new council has a name that reflects this, ensuring residents know who is responsible for delivering their services as well as paying heed to the financial climate that we are all in.

"Shortly residents will be asked whether they think the new council should be called Northumberland County Council – the name of the existing county council – or Northumberland Council.

"Unfortunately there are a number of fallacies circulating in the public domain so I'm keen that residents and other stakeholders are equipped to make informed choices about what the new council should be called.

"It is natural that in today's global financial climate people are worried about costs, and this is clearly an emotive issue.

"However, I can reassure residents that reported claims that it will cost £4m to call the new authority Northumberland Council are absolute rubbish.

"Officer advice is that the net cost of giving the council a new name would actually be in the region of £27,000, out of a total revenue budget of £500m.

"Furthermore, whichever name is chosen, the six district councils will need to be renamed regardless."

Costs for implementing the chosen name will be minimised in various ways.

Already councils are starting to run down their stocks of consumable items such as stationery.

When the time comes they will be replaced with new ones.

For larger items – building signage for example –low-cost stickers will be placed over the existing names as a temporary measure.

Once the items need replacing, new items with new names will be obtained thereby ensuring no increase in costs.

The council has also announced details of the consultation exercise to determine the new council's name.

Questionnaires will be sent to all 1,000 members of the citizen's panel whilst members of the general public will be able to comment via an online poll at www.northumberland.gov.uk

Employees of all seven councils due to be abolished can also take part through the council intranet.

The consultation will continue until December 4, and the result is expected to be discussed at a meeting of the full council on December 17.