I WOULD like to reply to Ian Cawood who stated on this letters page, with regard to the council flying the Saltire, that ‘As specific planning permission is required to fly any flag other than the Union Jack, can the council confirm that it holds this permission or is a prosecution pending?’

Government guidance can be found at: gov.uk Section (a) of the Department for Communities and Local Government guidance “Plain English guide to flying flags” states that a country’s flag, civil ensign or civil air ensign can be flown without consent.

The council flies a number of different flags throughout the year including the Armed Forces Day Flag, the Rainbow flag and the Yorkshire flag The decision to fly the Saltire was a joint decision made by the leaders of the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat groups of the council.

Cllr Tracey Simpson-Laing , Deputy Leader of the Council, Amberley Street, York.