What's in a name? Wolverhampton City Council could become City of Wolverhampton

The council wants to refer to itself as the 'City of Wolverhampton', as it hopes to boost staff productivity, creativity and lead to fewer sick days.

The project, which is being spearheaded by new managing director Keith Ireland, comes while the authority is has some of the worst performing schools in the country and is shelling thousands of staff after swingeing £123 million cuts.

Council documents state: "The existing Wolverhampton Council logo/corporate identity has been in use for a decade. The corporate communications team has been asked by the managing director to review the existing logo and to make recommendations for improvement.

"As requested by the managing director, a key recommendation is that the council should move away from its existing 'Wolverhampton City Council' word-mark and use instead 'City of Wolverhampton'.

"This more clearly expresses the council's status as Wolverhampton's civic and community leader. This will support the council's marketing efforts to enhance pride in the city and help position Wolverhampton moving forward as the city at the heart of the Black Country."

It comes after the Express & Star revealed the council is spending £2,000 on a in-house marketing scheme aimed at getting staff to come up with ideas to make the council 'confident and capable'.

Ideas include an annual employee awards, health checks for workers, tips on dealing with stress at work and generating income from solar panels on council buildings.

It comes as the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority Centro was due to be re-named Transport for West Midlands and council leaders from Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Coventry were to be asked to decide on a logo.

However the decision has now been deferred while work takes place to set up a combined authority for Birmingham and the Black Country that will see the leaders of five councils work together on transport as well as job creation, regeneration and dealing with any devolved powers that they may be offered by whichever parties form the government after the General Election.

The door has been left open for Coventry and Solihull to join it if they wish.