Union Jacks could be put up at three sites in Gedling borough as Nottinghamshire County Council looks to “strengthen community spirit
More than 150 flags would be attached to street furniture across Notts by the council after Reform UK proposed spending £75,000 on new banners.
Opposition parties want the allocated money to be spent on other council services – but Reform say the locations will also be used to display banners supporting events like Armistice Day, Christmas and Easter in future.
Flags will be put up on Mansfiled Road opposite the junction with Byron Street in Daybrook, on Mapperley Plains opposite St Mark’s Scout Group and near Sainsbury’s in Colwick.
The initiative will extend an existing network of around 180 banner locations currently used to publicise council services and community campaigns – from services like fostering to events like the Nottinghamshire County Show.
According to the council’s report, the expanded network, if approved, “will initially be used for the display of the national flag, with later use for other promotional or commemorative banners”.
Officials say they believe that showing the national flag of the United Kingdom in prominent public spaces will “strengthen community spirit, celebrate national events” and reinforce what the report describes as “the collective values of all the peoples and communities of the United Kingdom.”
The cost of installing, maintaining and periodically removing the banners and flags is estimated at £75,000. This will be funded from corporate contingencies, subject to approval from the council’s Section 151 finance officer.
In line with the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007, the council does not require separate planning consent to display national flags or advertisements connected with its own functions.
The programme will support ambition six of the Nottinghamshire Plan, which seeks to make the county “somewhere people love to live, work and visit.” The council says that promoting the national flag and its own services in public spaces will help residents feel more connected to their communities and better informed about local priorities.
Responsibility for selecting additional or alternative sites for banners and flags will rest with the Executive Director for Place, Derek Higton, whose report recommended approval.
What a?waste of money which could be used for more important things like repairing potholes.
What a waste of money which could be used for more important things like repairing potholes, or supporting those in need of care.in a Care Home .