Decision details

1.

Title of Item/Report

Council Motion – Flying the Union Flag

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report that outlined proposals for implementing the Council’s unanimously agreed motion to fly the Union Flag year-round on all Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council office premises. The motion reflected cross-party support for a consistent and respectful approach to recognising the national flag across the Borough.

It was recommended that Cabinet refer the matter to the Members Advisory Panel (MAP) to provide advice on the practical, financial, and governance arrangements required to update the Council’s Flag Flying Policy. This included defining which Council buildings are considered “public-facing,” assessing the feasibility and cost of installing additional flagpoles, and ensuring compliance with planning and safety regulations.

At its meeting in September 2024, Council approved a motion requesting that the Union Flag be flown all year round on all Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council office premises. The motion was supported by all political groups. A copy of the motion was detailed within the report.

The Council already had an adopted Flag Flying Policy covering Stockton Town Hall and the Council’s headquarters. The policy provided for the Union Flag to be flown continuously at the headquarters and on designated days at the Town Hall, alongside other flags such as the Commonwealth, Armed Forces Week and Pride flags.

A copy of the Council’s flag flying policy was attached to the report. This policy related to the flying of flags on the Council’s main headquarters building and Stockton Town Hall. The policy provided for the Union Flag to be flown from the headquarters building at all times and for the Union Flag to be flown on the Town Hall with the exception of designated days for other flags as outlined below:

March (second Monday in March) - Commonwealth Day - Commonwealth Flag

23 April - St George’s Day - St George’s Flag

End of June (fly for one week) (these dates change each year) - Armed Forces Week - Armed Forces Week flag

June – Pride - Rainbow Flag

3 September - Merchant Navy Day - Red Ensign

15 September - Battle of Britain Day - Royal Air Force Flag

The Council owns approximately 270 properties, of which only a proportion would be regarded as public-facing (for example, Dunedin House, libraries and customer contact centres). Further technical work was required to determine which sites were suitable for inclusion within any extended policy.

The flagpole at Dunedin House was commissioned when the Council’s headquarters moved there, to ensure that a flag could continue to be flown in accordance with the existing policy. The installation was therefore a continuation of established practice rather than a new initiative.

A list of buildings that could be deemed as public facing was attached to the report, including comments on the feasibility of installing a freestanding or building mounted flagpoles and other considerations.

Members were asked to provide a view on whether any of these public facing Council buildings should be subject to further site investigations with a view to bringing them into the Council’s flag flying policy.

Under the advertisement regulations flying flags does not necessarily require advertisement consent provided that certain criteria are met. However, all flags must:

•         Be adequately maintained

•         Kept in a safe condition

•         Have the landowner’s permission

•         Not obscure or hinder road, rail, waterway or aircraft signs

Flagpoles can be floor, wall or roof mounted and the size of flag flown was determined by the size of the pole. The new flagpole at Dunedin House was floor mounted. As well as material, other considerations include weight, diameter, thickness and wind loading guarantees.

The life span of the flag itself varied depending on the location of the flag pole and weather conditions and periodic replacement of flags also needs to be planned for. The structural wind loading for the flagpole would determine whether more than one flag can be flown at the same time as well as the size of the flag. The flagpole at Dunedin House did not allow for more than one flag to be flown at the same time.

Specialist companies offer site surveys and wind calculations.

As an indicator of cost, the most popular size of flagpole in the UK was 6m in height with a 2-yard flag. A glass fibre floor mounted 6m flagpole can retail from £432 to £861. A 2-yard Union Flag retails for around £75. Costs would however vary significantly depending on the specification. Installation costs would be additional.

A decision around the costs in relation to the installation of a flagpole at any new site cannot be confirmed without a site investigation and quotation from a specialist supplier. Site investigations would be required for all buildings to assess the structural integrity of the building if wall or roof mounted options are to be looked at and also the checking of underground utility apparatus for any freestanding options. How the flags are to be raised and lowered would also need to be considered along with any maintenance of the flagpoles. Wall mounted options may require ladder or cherry picker access.

Ground-based flagpoles require suitable foundations and underground service checks, together with structural calculations to verify wind loading, safe access for raising and lowering, and arrangements for inspection and maintenance. Wall- or roof-mounted options may require additional specialist assessment and access equipment.

RESOLVED that:-

1. The matter be referred to the Members Advisory Panel (MAP) to:

a)       Advise on the effective implementation of the Council motion to fly the Union Flag year-round on all Council office premises;

b)       Develop proposals for an updated Flag Flying Policy, including:

c)       Clarification of which Council buildings are considered “public-facing”;

d)       Technical feasibility, planning, and safety considerations for additional flagpoles;

e)       Financial implications of installation, maintenance, and replacement.

2. MAP be requested to advise Cabinet on a framework for approving future sites or variations, ensuring decisions are informed by appropriate technical and financial assessments.

3. MAP be requested to, supported by officers, report back to Cabinet with a revised and costed draft Flag Flying Policy for formal approval.

4. The current Flag Flying Policy (Appendix A of the report) has been updated to reflect the relocation of the Council’s headquarters to Dunedin House and to include the current programme of memorial lighting be noted.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

To ensure that the motion, agreed unanimously by Council, is implemented in a manner that is practical, affordable and legally robust, following cross-party engagement through the Members Advisory Panel.

4.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None

5.

Declared (Cabinet Member) Conflicts of Interest

None

6.

Details of any Dispensations

None

7.

Date and Time by which Call In must be executed

Midnight, 21 November 2025