This week will be a new dawn for Wiltshire in which the way the county is run changes for the first time in a generation.

And there is no doubt those behind the move to the single biggest local authority in the West are not missing out on the symbolic opportunities to mark the creation of a unitary authority.

Council leaders said they did not want to waste money on expensive launches, fireworks, large-scale jamborees with civic receptions, dinners and canapes.

So instead the two politicians who have driven the county into this brave new world will tour Wiltshire, raising a new Wiltshire Council flag.

In the course of Wednesday – April Fool's Day – county council leader Jane Scott and her deputy John Thomson will officially open the four main "customer service points" for the Wiltshire Council. Three of the sites are, until the end of tomorrow, the headquarters of the district councils to be abolished by the change.

In Salisbury, residents are getting new offices in the city centre, replacing the old district council ones.

The grand tour of Wiltshire will take Cllr Scott from Chippenham to Salisbury and back to Trowbridge to meet Cllr Thomson, who will have been raising a flag in Devizes at the exact moment Cllr Scott will have been cutting a ribbon in Salisbury.

The day ends at County Hall, the new headquarters of the One Council for Wiltshire, with Cllr Scott planting Wiltshire roses in a flower bed while, you've guessed it, a new flag is raised above her.

So, for the likely cost to the taxpayer of two reasonable mileage claims, four new flags, a ribbon which perhaps could be recycled to open two smaller things at a later date, and some roses, the council will be inaugurated on April Fool's Day.

Cllr Scott said: "We felt it was really important to mark this special day but to keep the costs to a minimum. April 1 marks the start of a new way for local government in Wiltshire and it's well worth celebrating.

"We are very pleased with these new premises in Salisbury – they are central, easily accessible, informal and friendly – they really are a great example of the face of the new council."

Wiltshire Council has already got off to a good start – the way in which local views are being gathered through 20 area forums has won a national award, presented to the council by a top comedian.

The Local Government Chronicle award for Local Leadership went to Wiltshire for its pioneering work engaging with communities.

Council chiefs went to a top London hotel last week to receive the award in front of 1,300 industry leaders from Mock The Week host Dara O'Briain.

Cllr Scott said: "We are delighted with this award. It recognises all the hard work that has been going on throughout the county and our vision for the future.

"Our aim is to help build resilient communities where people can be self-reliant and flexible and find local solutions rather than relying primarily on an institutional response."

Meanwhile, opposition Liberal Democrat councillors, who originally battled against the change, have been marking the end of district councils, and warning the new council will not be the bright new dawn those behind it hope.

Cllr Trevor Carbin, leader of the Lib Dems on West Wiltshire District Council, said: "April Fool's Day 2009 is probably not a good time to come into the world, especially with £185 million debt and in the middle of a financial crisis.

"We've seen a very low figure for Government grants to the new council and we can expect that to continue, though I still believe the increase in council tax this year to be inexcusable, given that the reorganisation was supposed to save money.

"However, there are opportunities. Many councils are showing that while the Government flounders there is much that can be done at local level to help people and businesses through the recession. At best the new council could be positive and could make a real difference."