Equality Impact Assessment - Council Flag Policy

In March 2022, the Council resolved that subject to the completion of an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA), the Council would amend its current flag policy in order to:

1. Fly our Union Flag at every war memorial all year round
2. Fly the Union Flag at the Church Street, Newtownards Council building all year round

The EQIA included consultation with the public and with staff over a 20-week period (June to November 2022). 

At the end of the consultation period the initial draft EQIA report was revised to provide details of the consultation process and to reflect the comments made by consultees. This final draft report can be downloaded here.

At the Council meeting on 26 January 2023, Members reviewed the EQIA findings. The decision was taken that the Council would amend its policy and so the Union Flag would be flown at Church Street and on war memorials all year round. 

Since that meeting, this decision has been ‘called in’ by 10 Elected Members. This means that it will not be acted upon at this time, but instead reconsidered by the Council at a future date.