Pride flag not included on list of approved flags that can be flown at civic buildings as Kirklees Council announces new policy
Kirklees Council has announced a new flag-flying policy which limits the number of approved flags that can be flown at civic buildings.
On Wednesday, September 2, a report, entitled “Review and update of the Council Flag Flying Policy”, was made, stipulating that “only the Union Flag, Flag of St George, Civic Flag and specific flags associated with ‘named days’ set out in the policy will be permitted to be flown from civic buildings owned or managed by the local authority”.
Pride flags were not included in the remit of flags to be flown on “name days”, with only flags representing Yorkshire Day, Armed Forces Day, Merchant Navy Day, Commonwealth Day, National 999 Emergency Services Day, Remembrance Sunday and Holocaust Memorial Day permitted.
During an assessment, risks were highlighted in the decision, including “concern that the removal of campaign or commemorative flags signals a change in the council’s position on particular causes”, though the council claims this was mitigated through “clear wording in the report”.
Speaking about the changes, Coun Sarah Wood, Leader of Kirklees Council, said: “The new policy sets out a clear approach across Kirklees, while focusing on the symbols that unite us all.
“This is about having a straightforward approach to flags and celebrating the things we have in common: our country and our community.”
The report – which was signed off without the consultation of ward councillors – went on to explain that the policy would apply to town halls and any other council-owned or managed civic buildings with a flagpole. The Union Flag would continue to take precedence over all other permitted flags, subject to Royal Protocol.
The policy was also considered to have a “neutral impact” in relation to race, as well as sexual orientation.
According to the integrated impact assessment, the policy “applies equally to all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity or national origin, and no evidence has been identified to suggest that any racial group would be disproportionately advantaged or disadvantaged by its implementation”.
The new policy is facing backlash from the leader of the opposition on Kirklees Council, the Green Party’s Coun Andrew Cooper, who branded the move a “divisive and unnecessary diversion”.
Coun Cooper said: “With so many problems facing the people of Kirklees, it is disappointing that the first thing Reform decided to do is create division when there are so many other issues that need their attention.
“The council is facing an overspend in its budget of £13.6million, demand for services for elderly and vulnerable people is soaring.
“Fly-tipping and the state of Kirklees roads continue to be big issues of concern in our communities, yet the first thing Reform does is try to whip up division over which flags we do or don’t fly on council buildings.”