IT means no more jokes about council chiefs in togas crowned with laurel wreaths.

For Hampshire Senate, a group of local authorities and other civic leaders, is to be renamed The Hampshire Partnership.

Despite the name-change, it is broadly the same organisation albeit with a clearer, non-executive role. Its members still include the leader of the county council, district council chiefs, and senior figures from the Armed Forces, voluntary and business sectors plus higher education.

The rebranding comes five years after the Senate was first set up by former county boss Ken Thornber, the self-anointed chairman or Emperor Ken as he was dubbed by critics.

The name – conjuring up images of councillors as modern-day Roman senators - proved a PR disaster and there were calls for it to be scrapped since it met in a four-star hotel at taxpayers’ expense in 2008.

Further cracks appeared in 2010 when Eastleigh Borough Council and Fareham Borough council pulled out, saying it was “undemocratic” and “irrelevant.” Portsmouth City Council also snubbed an invitation to join.

The Senate was criticised for duplicating the work of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Government Organisation (HIOWLGA), a partnership of all local councils, the fire and police authorities.

However it did achieve some successes, including the Insulate Hampshire campaign to improve the fuel economy of homes across the county.

Now the group has now been “refreshed and rebranded” after a workshop involving council leaders and other members.

County boss Roy Perry said: “I think the importance of the change is to emphasis that it is a partnership body without any executive powers. Each participating member remains responsible for delivery of their own services but with a clear picture of what other partners are doing and how roles can complement each others’ work.”

The Tory council chief said the partnership –like the Senate – was different from HIOWLGA as it included other partners, including the voluntary and private sector.

He added: “I am not sure anything was wrong with the Senate but I hope the new name and clarification and evolution will help it achieve a more co-operative spirit.”

Leader of Fareham Borough Council Sean Woodward, who also sits on the Cabinet in the county council, said he would now recommend to his full council that it should join.

Cllr Woodward said: “I see it as distinctly different. There are no suggestions of executive powers and I would not be surprised to see the chairmanship rotating between member authorities.”

Eastleigh Borough Council is also expected to re-join. Council boss Keith House, who is leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group on the county council, said it was more than just a name change.

Cllr House said: “The Senate was indeed a grand embarrassment and deserved pictures of Ken Thornber in a toga!

“It was a bloated vision of Senator Thornber directing all public services in Hampshire with an emperor’s veto. The Hampshire Partnership is much less grand and seeks to involve partners of the county council in improving and delivering county council services.”

There are no plans to invite Southampton or Portsmouth city councils to join the partnership.