The “sorry saga” of the Angus flag has finally been sewn up in a compromise which will keep the standard flying high above council headquarters.
As the conduct of elected members once again threatened to unravel at a full meeting of the council in Forfar, Carnoustie Independent Bill Bowles stepped in with a magnanimous gesture which will save the cash-strapped authority the money it said it could not afford on replacing the flag at £450 a time.
The coat of arms became a symbol of political strife after being raised by the Angus Alliance coalition when they ousted the district’s long-term SNP administration in 2007.
The controversial crests may have outlasted the rainbow grouping, but last month it emerged that the flags are now a little careworn and replacing the supply was set at £4,500.
Since 2007 some 21 flags have been bought at a cost of £10,000, with a further £18,000 spent on putting up additional flagpoles on council buildings to fly both the Saltire and the Angus crest.
Fans of the heraldic flag suggested flying only one at Angus House in Forfar and although the casting vote of council leader Iain Gaul consigned that proposal to defeat at a committee hearing earlier this month, the issue rose again on Thursday afternoon after a motion by Mr Bowles and Arbroath Independent David Fairweather to let the final decision rest with all 29 elected members.
Leader Mr Gaul opened the debate by signalling his intention to stick to his guns in what he tagged the “sorry saga.”
“I think £4,500 is far too much in current times and what the first report didn’t say was that it was agreed by those (who put it forward) to replace the saltire,” he said.
“This is an unpopular flag, it’s costing us money, it didn’t meet the tourism strategy and it does absolutely nothing for civic pride.”
Mr Fairweather responded: “The vote the first time round was 50:50 and that shows the strength of feeling to keep the Angus flag, the people’s flag.
“We’re not speaking about £4,500, we’re speaking about one flag at £450,” he said.
Backing the retention of the crest at Angus House, Mr Bowles said: “I’ve only been a councillor for two years and so I was not involved in the Alliance political humdrum associated with this flag.
“I don’t want any part of that. I want to be one of 29 councillors moving forward with decisions for the benefit of Angus.”
He said the Angus flag was as important to the county as the crests he had served under in his military career and the badge worn on the shirt of clubs he had played for.
“If we are a team we should have a flag flown at our HQ, to show people what we do that we are Team Angus.”