Issue - meetings

STOCKTON-ON-TEES BOROUGH COUNCIL

CABINET DECISION

PROFORMA

Cabinet Meeting ........................................................................ 13 November 2025

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.

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