Dorset were using official arms. From 1996 a piecemeal reform of local government meant the abolition of a number of county councils. It also recreated Worcestershire county council, who regained the use of the former county council arms. The unitary authority of Herefordshire, a county for ceremonial purposes, also gained the use of the old county council arms. Among the unitary authorities created was East Riding of Yorkshire. However this had a very different area to the pre 1974 East Riding and so was not allowed to take over the old arms. The council did obtain a grant of new arms. Rutland district became a unitary authority and ceremonial county, retaining the coat of arms that had been transferred from the previous county council. Dorset became a unitary authority in 2019, and has yet to apply for a formal transfer. Use of the arms The arms were granted to the councils of the county, and not to the county in general. This means that they can only be used by the council itself, who cannot allow another body or individual the use of their arms. However, many county councils have an additional heraldic badge which they can license organisations associated with the county to use. The accepted practice is that it is permissible to illustrate the arms of a county council subject to copyright of the illustrator. In this case they should be clearly labelled as the arms of the county council. Current Non-Metropolitan County Councils There are 25 two-tier county councils remaining in England after a series of reforms. Unitary Authorities of Ceremonial Counties Obsolete County Councils (1889–1974) Greater London Council (1965–1986) Non-Metropolitan County Councils Metropolitan County Councils (1974–1986) Sources A. C. Fox-Davies, The Book of Public Arms, 1915 C. W. Scott-Giles, Civic Heraldry of England and Wales, 1953 G. Briggs, Civic and Corporate Heraldry, 1971 The Local Authorities (Armorial Bearings) Order 1974 The Local Authorities (Armorial Bearings) Order 1975 The Local Authorities (Armorial Bearings) Order 1976 The Local Authorities (Armorial Bearings) Order 1977 The Local Authorities (Armorial Bearings) (No. 2) Order 1997 References English counties' coats of arms England-related lists Coats of arms of county councils in England