Nottinghamshire County Council has proposed plans to install additional banners and national flags on street furniture across the county in a move aimed at promoting civic pride and marking national occasions.
The initiative extends an existing network of around 180 banner locations currently used to publicise council services and community campaigns. The new phase will add a further series of sites chosen for their visibility and suitability for safe installation.
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 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 chosen lighting columns and other street furniture have been assessed to ensure they meet highway safety standards.
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.
No equality, environmental or sustainability concerns were identified in the report. A review process will be established to ensure that displays continue to meet legal requirements and community expectations.
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.
Locations below
