Flag policy (August 2017)

HELMDON PARISH COUNCIL
FLAG POLICY
1. The Council owns a flag pole on the war memorial green.
2. The Council may at any time and at its sole discretion decide on the use of the flag pole and the flags it flies within the constraints of this policy. Nevertheless, it will endeavour to settle an Annual Flag Plan (appendix A) at the March parish council meeting. This plan will include the intended dates for flying flags and the flags to be flown.
3. At the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council in May, a volunteer Flag Master and
Deputy Flag Master will be appointed. The primary duty of the Flag Master will be to oversee the safe operation of the flag pole (including proper maintenance), to fly flags according to the Annual Flag Plan, to manage the quality and condition of the flags and to liaise with parish residents and bring any issues concerning the flags to the Chairman and Council.
4. In the absence of the Flag Master, the Deputy Flag Master may do anything the Flag
Master may do.
5. The Union Flag will be flown at half-mast at times of national mourning or at times of disaster which, in the opinion of the Chairman of the Council and Flag Master, merit this.
6. Flags will not be flown during severe weather e.g. (predicted winds in excess of
45mph).
7. Flags may only be hoisted by persons authorised by the Council.
8. Flags will be kept at the home of the Flag Master (or Deputy Flag Master). Keys to the flag pole will be held by the Flag Master, Deputy Flag Master, Chairman of the
Council and Clerk to the Council.
9. All flag-flying will comply with the national rules and regulations in force, without exception. 1
10. This policy will be reviewed on an annual basis.
Signed: ___________________________ (Chairman)
Date: 26th July 2017
Date of next review: July 2018
1 https://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/british-flags/flying-flags-in-the-united-kingdom/british-flag-protocol/
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HELMDON PARISH COUNCIL
FLAG POLICY
APPENDIX A – ANNUAL FLAG PLAN
The Union flag can be flown on the following dates:
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9 January Birthday of the Duchess of Cambridge
20 January Birthday of the Countess of Wessex
6 February Her Majesty’s Accession
19 February Birthday of the Duke of York
1 March St David’s Day
10 March Birthday of the Earl of Wessex
13 March Commonwealth Day (second Monday in March)
21 April Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen
2 June Coronation Day
10 June Birthday of the Duke of Edinburgh
17 June Official celebration of Her Majesty’s birthday (date varies)
21 June Birthday of the Duke of Cambridge
24th June Armed Forces Day
17 July Birthday of the Duchess of Cornwall
15 August Birthday of the Princess Royal
14 November Birthday of the Prince of Wales
Remembrance Sunday – to be flown at half-mast.
20 November Her Majesty’s Wedding Day
30 November St Andrew’s Day
The Cross of St George flag will be flown on St George’s Day: 23 April
The Northamptonshire County flag will be flown on Northamptonshire County Day: 25th October
Other Flags
At present the Northamptonshire County flag will fly at all other times.
If in the future the Parish Council chooses to adopt a Village flag, it could be flown for civic occasions in the Parish or to celebrate local events at the discretion of the Chairman.
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