The Court of the Lord Lyon has provided guidance on the ways in which the Coat of Arms of Burntisland Community Council may be used, and by whom. They are summarised below.

The arms may be used in any way approved by the Community Council in order to signify our identify.

The arms may be shown within a shield on letter-headings, stationery, buildings, trophies, badges or other items. They may be in colour or in a black and white version which is clearly intended to represent the coloured original.

The name of Burntisland Community Council may or may not accompany the shield, at our discretion, but must not be added to the shield by printing across or within it.

Whilst a shield is preferred, it is acceptable for the arms to be printed on a rectangle, roundel, triangle or free shape other than a diamond. The latter is reserved for other purposes. The arms should completely fill whatever shape is used.

The two main colours of the arms can be used as ?house colours? for property or clothing. In our case, the relevant colours are red and blue.

The arms can be used on a formal seal.

Flags should be square or rectangular. They may be flown at any location which represents the interests of the Community Council.

The arms can be used at any time to signify the interest of the Community Council, either as a simple identifier or as a token of recognition given to another organisation or person. Independent use of the arms by another organisation implies approval of their work by the Community Council or an active involvement of the Community Council.

Where used, it should reflect the lawful purpose of the Community Council. Our statutory brief is: to ascertain, co-ordinate and express the views of the community and to take action in the interests of the community.

The Community Council is also expected to be responsible in the management of its affairs and to be accessible to all sectors of the community.

Any use of the arms which might be divisive should therefore be prohibited, as should any use by an organisation whose management practices fall below an acceptable standard.

The Community Council may therefore grant another organisation permission to use the arms for specified purposes, subject to the above conditions, and subject to withdrawal of approval without notice if any of the conditions are breached.

The arms of the former Royal Burgh of Burntisland, or a very similar version, are currently used by at least the following organisations, and their usage has been established for some years:

Town Twinning (on stationery);

Health Centre (on leaflets used by one practice);

Pipe Band (on uniform ties).

Dalgety Bay Community Council include their arms on signs at entrances to the town. Other burghs in the former North East Fife, e.g. Cupar, also have arms on their signs at town boundaries. The Dalgety Bay example is both tasteful and correct in all respects and could be replicated for Burntisland, with the consent of the highways authority.

It would be appropriate for Burntisland Community Council to re-design our stationery by including the arms in black and white. It would also be appropriate for the arms to be represented in the Council Chamber, which is our normal meeting place.

Other examples of acceptable or unacceptable uses might be:

On the stationery or livery of a local organisation which can be seen to represent the whole community in its field and whose constitutional objects include the benefit of Burntisland, provided that the arms are not the predominant feature of the letterhead or logo.

On souvenirs or other products which are being sold for commercial gain, unless a specific licence agreement has been approved by the Community Council for each product.

Where an organisation has an established use which generally meets the above conditions, that use may continue until current supplies are exhausted. Thereafter application must be made to the Community Council for continuation of use.

September 1997