Councillor Chris Jones introduced a report by the Director of Public Health which reminded the Council that on 10 March 2014 the Council had ratified a decision made by the Families and Wellbeing Committee to adopt the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control.

As part of this pledge, the Council had committed to reduce smoking prevalence and health inequalities’. 

A proposal had been made to the Chief Executive’s Strategic Group at its meeting on 11 February 2014 to revise the Council’s existing Smokefree arrangements under the Health and Safety Policy.  Under this proposal, smoking would not be allowed anywhere on any Council site, as far as its boundary.  This would apply to all Council staff, visitors, contractors and where applicable to members of the public.  In addition, existing protocols regarding the use of electronic cigarettes would be tightened. 

The revised Smokefree policy was a clear statement of the Council’s intent to fulfil its pledge with respect to the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control. 

Rather than these changes be seen as punitive, their underlying purpose was designed to ‘nudge’ current smokers to re-consider their risk-taking behaviour and create the optimum environment for those that wish to quit. 

RESOLVED:

That the full implementation of the Council’s revised Smokefree policy be approved.