To consider a request to fly the flag of Kashmir from the 1930s extension flagpole to mark the National Day of Kashmir on 24 October 2022.

Not to fly the flag of Kashmir from the 1930s extension flagpole to mark the National Day of Kashmir on 24 October 2022.

Oxford City Council’s Protocol for Flag Flying and Bell Ringing states that additional one-off flag flying requests will only be considered if the relevant mast is available on the date(s) in question. In this instance there was an existing annual commitment to fly the United Nations flag from the 1930s extension flagpole on 24 October to mark United Nations Day, rendering the relevant mast unavailable. The annual commitment to fly the United Nations flag on 24 October was agreed by the City Executive Board (now Cabinet) on 13 March 2019.

The Protocol also sets out a hierarchy of flag flying commitments. The hierarchy sets out that occasions the Council has chosen to recognise annually will take precedent over one-off requests. In this instance the annual commitment to fly the United Nations flag on 24 October takes precedent over the one-off request to fly the flag of Kashmir.

To fly the flag of Kashmir. This option was rejected in accordance with Oxford City Council’s Protocol for Flag Flying and Bell Ringing, due to an annual commitment to fly the United Nations flag from the 1930s extension flagpole on 24 October to mark United Nations Day and in accordance with the hierarchy of commitments set out in the Protocol.

Decision taken by Alice Courtney, Committee and Member Services Manager (Interim Acting) in consultation with Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of the Council.