FLAG TO MOVE

That decision was reached by councillors at a special ‘behind closed doors’ meeting at Ardeevin last Wednesday on Ballymena Borough Council’s flying of flags and emblems policy & procedure.

A Council corporate statement issued following the meeting pointed out that the decision had been made in accordance with a recommendation put forward to Council by its Equality Working Group, which has representation from all of Council’s political parties and independent members.

The statement confirmed: “The flag of the former Government of Northern Ireland – Ulster banner, will cease to be displayed in the existing Committee Room/Council Chamber. It will be relocated to the Mayor’s Parlour, subject to further research and due consideration.

“The Union flag and portrait of Her Majesty The Queen will continue to be displayed.

“The three existing Union flags located at Council’s HQ building, Ardeevin; the Ballymena Town Hall, Museum and Arts Centre, and the Memorial Park will continue to fly every day of the year”.

The corporate statement also clarified that Council sought and obtained legal advice as well as advice from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland in relation to its policies and procedures surrounding flags and emblems and that this advice “was given due consideration by the Working Group and a number of recommendations were put forward” to the special Council meeting.

The successful recommendation, which was presented to the meeting by Paul Frew on behalf of the DUP, proposed:

* The existing practice of flying of the Union Flags externally at Ardeevin, Town Hall and War Memorial Park would remain unchanged - that they are in place 365 days per year.

*The purchase of a new picture of Her Majesty The Queen to mark Her Diamond Jubilee which will be placed on the wall behind the Mayor’s chair in the Council Chamber

* The purchase of a new Union Flag which will be erected in a vertical manner on a flag stand and placed on the right hand side of the raised area of the Council Chamber.

* The purchase of a new flag depicting the crest of the Seven Towers on a blue background which will be erected in a vertical manner on a flag stand and placed on the left hand side of the raised area of the Council Chamber.

* The purchase of a new crest of the Seven Towers which will be erected on the front of the Mayor’s desk.

* The Ulster Flag should be situated in the Mayor’s Parlour, in an appropriate position which will be at the discretion of the Mayor.

* When the Council Chamber is required for purpose’s other than a political space, all flags and emblems will be relocated, in a respectful manner, placed in an appropriate space to comply with current council policy.

* That an official opening of the new Chamber be held on February 6, with a soft opening on January 23 by which time all flags and emblems should be in place.

Whilst that recommendation was adopted at the meeting by a majority vote, there was support from the SDLP, SF and Alliance parties of another option which called for the removal of all flags and contentious emblems. A third option favoured by the TUV was primarily based on a maintenance/enhancement of Council’s existing practice on flying of flags and display of emblems.

More on page 15