Councillors approved a Flag Flying Policy which will give the community the opportunity to request for a flag to be flown on the town's flagpoles.

At Thursday's Congleton Town Council meeting of the Finance and Policy Committee, which was conducted via Zoom, councillors discussed a Flag Flying Policy from Cllr Russell Chadwick.

Cllr Chadwick said: "The Union Flag is one of the best-known national symbols in the world. The flag signifies the unity of nations that make up the United Kingdom and dependencies that demonstrates the bond of citizenship which we all share.

"Whatever our differences may be, whatever our faith, culture, political views, ethnicity, first language or traditional customs, we can all stand beneath this flag united together in common purpose."

Cllr Chadwick asked the Finance and Policy Committee to give due consideration to a new flag flying policy to be adopted in relation to the flying of flags at Congleton Town Hall and other council owned buildings/flagpoles.

The aim is to standardise procedures and to consult with councillors on the content of the flag flying policy. The alternative is to not have a policy in respect of flying flags.

Cllr Chadwick added: "This would continue the uncertainty in respect of which flags can be flown and when. The adoption of the policy will make it clear which alternative flags can be flown additionally to the Union Flag."

Once adopted the day-to-day management of the flying of flags at Congleton Town Council would be overseen by Chief Officer, David McGifford.

The Union Flag would be flown at full mast at the Town Hall on the designated days for Union Flag flying as recommended by the Government, with the additional date of the election of the Congleton Town Mayor in May.

Cllr David Brown said: "I would like to support this, it's very good and makes it clear what the conditions are and it's something that was an admission from the previous councils."

Cllr Paul Duffy said: "I think it's great that Cllr Chadwick has recognised there was no real policy in place and any effort to put a process and policy in is to be welcomed.

"Is this just a policy to put up a Union Flag and nothing else or are we open to seeing the Rainbow Flag, the EU Flag or even the Scottish Flag."

Cllr Chadwick stated that the policy will give anybody in the community the ability to apply in "good time" to David McGifford, the chief officer, to have a flag flown. No flag of a political nature will be considered.

Cllr Chadwick added: "If somebody has a particular reason or there is a parade in town, they can write to the town council and the chief officer can review that.

"It's certainly not about just flying the Union Flag, it's about having a policy to be able to show to residents we can celebrate activities within the UK and having no policy whatsoever is not the right way to go forward."

The meeting was told that once the town's Cenotaph refurbishment is complete, there will be five flagpoles in Congleton and Cllr Chadwick said: "As a consequence we need to use them in a way that we all agree."

Councillors voted to approve and implement the Flag Flying Policy for Congleton Town Council and for it to be added to the town council's constitution.

The Congleton Town Flag should be flown:

• On the day of the Annual Town Meeting
• Annual Council Meeting (Mayor Making)
• Civic Sunday
• Whenever the Mayor holds an official reception and on other occasions according to local custom

The Congleton Town Flag should be flown at half-mast at the Town Hall from the day of death until after the funeral of:

• A member of the council
• A Mayor of Congleton Town
• An Honorary Burgess of the Town
• A Member of Parliament for the town
• A Chief Officer
• A former Chief Officer/ Clerk
• A former member of the council
• A former member of a constituent authority of the council who represented Congleton
• A member of staff who died whilst still in the employment of the council

If a Union Flag Day occurs on a day when the local authority's flag is flying at half-mast, the Union Flag will be flown at half-mast in its place.

Other Flags:

• Commonwealth Day, second Monday in March, the Commonwealth Flag will be flown.
• The Armed Forces Flag will be flown for one week every year in support of the nation's armed forces. The date which is fixed annually to coincide with armed forces week in June.
• Remembrance in November; Royal British Legion Remembrance Flag will be flown from the Launch of the Poppy Appeal until after Armistice Day (Remembrance Day).
• Formal visits by other authorities or royal visitors – the Union and the local authority flag can be flown together with the flag of the visiting authority and/or the royal visitor (if appropriate).
• International links/Town Twinning; We fly the flag of these when an official delegation visits Congleton, for the duration of the visit e.g. Princess Irene Brigade.

If you want an indication of the regular local and national flag flying days, check out Appendix A on page 89 of the town council's agenda report.