MORE than £130,000 of public money will be spent on branding and website design when the new Somerset West and Taunton Council comes into being next April, it was revealed this week.

A freedom of information request has shown that a new website, a new logo and related branding will be paid for by the taxpayer and will cost a total of £134,000, based on estimates when the new council’s business case was approved.

The “indicative” cost for a new website within this business case was £80,000 – with a new intranet also being developed under the project.

The branding of the new council – including a new logo, signage and “fleet livery” has an indicative cost within the same document of £54,000.

The business case was approved by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as part of the process of bringing the new council into being.

The two existing councils have said that other administrative changes will be necessary, but that these could be handled within current budgets.