THURROCK Council is set to give itself planning permission to fly a Pride flag and a Remembering Srebrenica from the Town Hall reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
The borough has applied for planning permission to place two flag poles in New Road between High Street and Derby Road. The Progress Pride flag incorporates the LGBTQ+ flag along with the trans and people of colour community.
The flag will be raised during next year’s Pride month. A second Remembering Srebrenica Week flag will be raised next July
Fraser Massey, Independent councillor for East Tilbury Ward questioned whether the council had got its priorities right. Mr Massey said: “As with any planning application, councillors have the powers to call in the decision and then be discussed by planning committee.
“Personally, I don’t have any issue with this application, but I do think the council has more pressing issues at the moment rather than which flags are flown outside the civic offices.”
Mr Massey added: “At a time when the council is under scrutiny on its path to financial recovery and when planning issues relating to greenbelt development and Section 106 monies are still outstanding, we should be focused on rectifying those issues which really impact residents.”
A spokesman for Thurrock Council said: “Along with many local authorities Thurrock Council shows its support for the rights of the borough’s LGBTQ+ communities by flying the Progress Flag during Pride Month, which takes place in June each year.
“Thurrock Council flies the Cross of St George Flag every day of the year. Other flags are flown throughout the year to mark key events that are relevant to our residents.
“This includes Remembering Srebrenica Week, which takes place around July 11 every year. Last week we commemorated the 8,000 mostly Muslim men and boys who were murdered in the Srebrenica Genocide in July 1995. In 2018 Thurrock Council committed to recognise Srebrenica memorial events in July each year, including raising a flag at the council’s Town Hall.”
The spokesman added: “The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 flags identifies which flags are able to be flown without consent being required from a Local Planning Authority, which means that other flags, such as the Remembering Srebrenica and Progress flags, require additional planning consent.”
