in autumn 2004 several gay businesses in london were ordered by westminster city council to remove the rainbow flag from their premises, as its display required planning permission. when one shop applied for permission, the planning sub-committee refused the application on the chair's casting vote (may 19, 2005), a decision condemned by gay councillors in westminster and the then mayor of london, ken livingstone. in november the council announced a reversal of policy, stating that most shops and bars would be allowed to fly the rainbow flag without planning permission.