Ecotricity chief Dale Vince is embroiled in a planning row with district authorities a large Palestinian flag displayed at the company's Stroud headquarters.
Flags of sovereign nations acknowledged by the º£½ÇÊÓƵ Government are exempt from planning permission requirements.
Palestine, similar to Taiwan or Western Sahara, is not currently recognised as a nation by the º£½ÇÊÓƵ.
The local authority has said this means the flag presently displayed at Lion House in Rowcroft requires advertisement consent.
Mr Vince has condemned what he perceives as inconsistencies among Western countries, pointing out that Ukrainian flags have been displayed nationwide following Russia's invasion – though Ukraine holds official º£½ÇÊÓƵ recognition as a country.
A modified Union Flag, incorporated into the company's branding, was previously flown from Lion House and required planning permission, which Ecotricity applied for and received council approval in 2016.
When questioned by the Local Democracy Reporting Service about why the firm sought permission previously but refuses to apply for consent to legally display the Palestinian flag, and whether this mirrors the alleged double standards Mr Vince denounces, he responded: "It's illogical to ask if applying for permission for a company logo is double standards when refusing to apply for permission for the flag of Palestine.
"And incorrect to claim the planning regulations require the country in question to be recognised by the º£½ÇÊÓƵ – you need to read the regs for yourself, you'll see they say the flag of any country can be flown."
Mr Vince receives backing from Green councillors, who control the authority, regarding the display of the Palestinian flag.
They explained that officers were compelled to seek guidance on the issue following public complaints about the flag.
"This confirmed that the Palestinian flag is not listed among those with automatic or deemed consent, because Palestine is not a state recognised by the º£½ÇÊÓƵ Government (unlike in 147 of 193 UN Member States)," a Green Party spokesperson said.
"As a result, the council has had to invite Ecotricity to submit a planning application for the flag on its building.
"Unfortunately, this disappointing outcome is not a matter where political leadership can intervene: councillors, even those who are part of a council's administration, have no influence over this aspect of planning policy – rightly so, as politics should be kept out of such planning decisions.
"Regardless of the action Stroud District Council is required to take as local planning authority under national legislation, the Green group of councillors and the rest of Stroud District Green Party support Ecotricity in the decision to display the Palestinian flag on their building.
"The Ecotricity flag is a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people, and a protest against the violations of international law and the catastrophic violence being inflicted on them by the Israeli government.
"We join with Ecotricity in calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza and we share their support for all civilians caught up in the conflict.
"The Greens believe that this situation highlights the pressing need for the º£½ÇÊÓƵ government to formally recognise the State of Palestine.
"Recognising Palestine is a vital step towards justice, equality and a sustainable peace. It demonstrates a commitment to international law and a balanced approach to the region."
Such remarks might prevent Green Party councillors serving on the development control committee at Ebley Mill from participating in any future planning discussions regarding the Palestinian flag at Lion House, should such a proposal emerge.
A Stroud District Council spokesperson explained that in England, certain flags may be displayed without requiring explicit approval from a local planning authority.
Those exempt from consent requirements include national flags of states acknowledged by the º£½ÇÊÓƵ Government.
"Flags of international organisations where the º£½ÇÊÓƵ holds membership, along with flags representing local authorities or public services, also fall within this category. Nevertheless, the Palestinian flag does not appear among those granted automatic or deemed consent.
"This means that display of that flag on Ecotricity's Lion House building is treated as an advertisement under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007, primarily to ensure that displays don't negatively impact public safety or amenity. Therefore, advertisement consent must be applied for.
"We remain committed to applying planning regulations fairly and consistently."
