Agenda item

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 24th April, 2009, it had considered a request from the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff on behalf of the Ministry of Defence for the Council to fly the Armed Forces Day flag for the week commencing 22nd June.  The Committee had agreed not to accede to the request. However, the Council, at its meeting on 5th May, had rejected the decision of the Committee and had agreed that, in accordance with existing Council policy, the request to fly the Armed Forces Flag at the City Hall be acceded to but that approval be for one day only.

            The Head of Committee and Members’ Services reported that a letter had been received from the Chief of the Defence Staff making a similar request for the flying of the Armed Forces flag at the City Hall from 21st till 26th June this year.  As in 2009, the Ministry of Defence had offered to provide the Council with the flag.  The existing Council policy on the flying of flags allowed for flags other than the Union Flag to be flown on specific occasions.  For example, the Cross of St. Patrick was flown on 17th March, the European flag was flown on Europe Day on 9th May and the Red Ensign was flown on National Merchant Navy Day on 3rd September each year.

            There were a number of options open to the Committee which were:

(i)   to accede to the request from the Ministry of Defence for the Armed Forces Flag to be flown at the City Hall for the period from 21st till 26th June; or

(ii)  in line with the decision which had been taken last year, to accede to the request but to limit the period during which the flag be flown to the Armed Forces Day itself, that is, 26th June; or

(iii)to refuse the request.

            The Head of Committee and Members’ Services explained that it was now clear that requests for the flying of the Armed Forces Flag would continue to be received on an annual basis and the Committee might also wish to determine a policy for future years so that it would not be necessary for individual requests to be brought before the Committee year on year.

Moved by Councillor M. Browne,

Seconded by Councillor C. Maskey,

      That the Committee agrees to adopt Option 3, that is, to refuse the request.

Amendment

Moved by Councillor Newton,

Seconded by Councillor D. Browne,

      That the Committee agrees to adopt Option 1 and accede to the request from the Ministry of Defence for the Armed Forces Flag to be flown at the City Hall for the period from 21st till 26th June.

            On a vote by show of hands seven Members voted for the amendment and eight against and it was accordingly declared lost.

            The original proposal standing in the name of Councillor M. Browne and seconded by Councillor C. Maskey was thereupon put to the meeting when seven Members voted for and eight against and it was accordingly declared lost.

Further Proposal

Moved by Councillor Hendron,

Seconded by Councillor Crozier,

      That the Committee agrees to adopt Option 2, that is, in line with the decision which had been taken last year, to accede to the request but to limit the period during which the flag would be flown to the Armed Forces Day on 26th June.

            On a vote by show of hands eight Members voted for the proposal and seven against and it was accordingly declared carried.

            It was agreed further that any future requests to fly the Armed Forces Flag be submitted to the Committee for consideration.