RESIDENTS of Plymouth will have to get consent for flying flags from their own property in the new year if they don’t meet strict criteria.

Plymouth City Council is planning to introduce a policy for flag flying which “celebrates the diversity of the city whilst staying true to traditions”.

It sets out how and when the city will fly flags and light up landmark buildings for commemorations and celebrations and includes a new process for members of the public who request for flags to be flown from a civic or council-owned flagpole.

But consent will also be needed if anyone wants to fly a flag at home that is not on the council’s list of flags.

Included in the list are any country’s national flag, the NHS flag, Commonwealth or United Nations flags, patron saint flags and His Majesty’s forces flags among others

The draft policy will be considered by the council’s housing and community scrutiny panel on December 10.

A report to the panel says: “The council respects everyone’s individual liberty to fly their flags on their own property.

“Any flag not identified or covered in list 1 or 2 requires express consent from the local planning authority before it can be flown.

“If a flag is flown that does not have express consent it may be subject to enforcement action. The local planning authority will make an expediency assessment taking in to account the matters of amenity and public safety.”

The council will reserve the right to take enforcement action on anyone raising, flying or painting flags on other people’s property, including council property which includes buildings and street furniture “in line with government guidance” it says.

PCC says the policy aims to make Plymouth’s approach clear, fair and consistent – ensuring every request is considered “in line with our civic values”.

It follows an intense period of flag flying, protests and community unrest in the city.

In the summer St George’s Cross flags were painted on walls, signs and roundabouts as tensions ran high over immigration.

The council announced this week that it would seek to remove any unauthorised national flags from street furniture as part of a routine maintenance programme to ensure the safety of road users.

Several requests are made to the council throughout the year in response to local, national and international events for flag flying or lighting up public buildings.

The report said that “public requests in relation to flying flags, commemoration or lighting buildings will be considered in line with national guidance, the protocol set out in this policy and/or with the agreement of the chief executive in consultation with the leader”.

Discretion would be exercised in exceptional circumstances ….to show solidarity with – or sympathy for – another nation experiencing a significant loss by flying their national flag.

In situations where there was internal or external conflict in a foreign nation, the council would consider the impact the flying of its national flag might have on all communities in the city, and where appropriate, may fly a peace flag instead.

The draft policy covers everything from national days and civic occasions to community celebrations and moments of remembrance.

Cllr Chris Penberthy, cabinet member for housing, cooperative development and communities, said: “We know that flags and lighting up our landmarks are powerful symbols of pride, solidarity and remembrance. Currently, requests to fly a flag on a civic or council-owned flagpole or to light up a public building come from many different directions, which can cause delays and inconsistency.

“Plymouth is a proud city. We fly the Union Flag and the St George’s Cross with pride because they represent our shared values of democracy, respect and unity. This proposed policy makes sure that when we commemorate, celebrate or show solidarity, we do so in a way that reflects who we are – a welcoming city that values fairness and community cohesion.”

The policy will come into play from January 12 subject to approvals.