Overview
- Council leader Shabina Qayyam said flags will generally stay up unless they pose a clear health and safety risk.
- Officers will remove flags that are significantly damaged, worn, or likely to fall, with swift action where hazards are reported.
- At a 21 January full council meeting, councillor John Fox urged the removal of unauthorised, dishevelled flags and said campaigners should cover maintenance costs.
- Qayyam described the surge in flag flying as rooted in patriotism and stressed that no resident should feel unsafe or face racism under the flag’s symbolism.
- The displays stem from last summer’s Operation Raise the Colours, with other councils citing safety or vandalism in takedowns and wider debate continuing over consistency and community impact.