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05
Mar
Mayor's new £32,000 logo branded 'staggering waste of money'
A new £32,000 logo for York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority has been criticised as a “staggering waste of money" and “ugly”.
Labour mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, is set to approve the logo on Friday (March 7) as part of a rebrand of the authority.
The new design, which cost £31,860, shows interlocking green lines alongside the name of the combined authority and mayor.
However, Conservative councillors have criticised the move as a “staggering waste of money” for a rebrand.
Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways on North Yorkshire Council, pointed to the Labour mayor’s pre-election pledge to “always spend taxpayers money wisely”.
Cllr Keane Duncan, who has oversight of the scheme, on Station Parade.
He added that the logo omits the white rose which is symbolic with Yorkshire and called on local designers to come up with their own alternative rebrands.
Cllr Duncan said:
Almost £32,000 is quite frankly a scandalous amount for the mayor to spend on a logo.
His promise to deliver value for money seems to be in tatters, with the expensive new branding labelled ‘ugly’, ‘cringeworthy’ and ‘woke’ by local people.
Many Yorkshire folk will see this logo as the ultimate betrayal because it omits the White Rose that has been a symbol of our great county since Tudor times.
That’s why I am calling on designers to do Yorkshire proud, restore the rose and protect our county’s proud heritage.
Cllr Chris Steward, leader of the Conservative group on City of York Council, added:
This is a staggering waste of money.
With most residents saying they don't know who the mayor is, and certainly not what he stands for, it is incredible that he feels the need to focus on a logo with a cost which will amaze all.
He and his office should focus on delivery on transport, homes and the economy not gimmicks, expensive rebranding and bizarre logos.
A combined authority report published ahead of the rebrand decision said the logo was designed to “celebrate our region’s heritage and rurality with an innovative twist”.
In response to the criticism, Mr Skaith said:
As mayor I am dedicated to ensuring value for money. Investing in building a strong unifying brand that can be used across all aspects of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authorities work is vital. A strong professional brand will support our organisation as we seek inward investment, manage our regions transport network, and build safe places for all.
At inception a rebrand was always agreed and doing this now will save on implementation as the combined authority grows and delivery rolls out. This was funded through a pre-approved core budget and was delivered under cost. The brand is intended to stand out and stand up boldly alongside other combined authority brands.
I get that branding is subjective, some people will love it, and some people will hate it - that's fine. As a business owner I know the importance of making sure you put your best foot forward as you sell yourself regionally, nationally, and internationally.
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