The council has three flagpoles outside the HQ building in Almada Street, Hamilton, and it has been agreed that the standard procedure will be to fly the Union Flag, the Scottish Saltire, and the council flag.

However, until the end of the war in Ukraine, the Ukrainian flag will be flown in place of the council flag in solidarity with the people affected by the illegal invasion.

Other than that, there will be 13 days throughout the year when the council flag (or Ukrainian Flag in the meantime) is replaced with an appropriate flag to mark dates issued by the Protocol and Honours Office at the Scottish Government.

These dates are subject to revision annually but, as a guide, those set for 2022 were:

• 1 February: Start of LGBT History Month
• 14 March: Commonwealth Day
• 28 April: International Workers Memorial Day (when the flags will also be flown at Half Mast)
• 9 May: Europe Day
• 17 May: International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia
• 18 June: Autistic Pride Day
• 25 June: Armed Forces Day
• 3 September: Merchant Navy Day
• 19 October: Emergency Services Day
• 13 November: Remembrance Sunday
• 20 November: Transgender Remembrance Day
• 30 November: St Andrew’s Day
• 1 December: World AIDS Day

It is expected that three dates will be added in 2023 to reflect the dates of the Coronation Day, Official Birthday and Birthday of King Charles III.

Councillor Joe Fagan, Leader of South Lanarkshire Council, said: “The flying of flags is a mark of respect, solidarity and support and as such we wanted it to be a practice that is free of contention and argument, leaving only the solemnity and the significance of the occasion.

“We hope that a clear, official and open protocol will achieve this and will allow the flags to both support those they represent and raise awareness amongst the public in general.”