Bath & North East Somerset Council is one of the first local authorities in the South West to publicly declare its intention to protect residents’ health from the risks associated with smoking tobacco.
At a Full Council meeting on 12th September, Members supported the motion from Cllr Simon Allen to sign up to the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control.
The Declaration includes a number of specific commitments including reducing the number of people smoking, working with local communities to develop plans and protecting tobacco control work from the commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry.
Cllr Simon Allen (Lib-Dem, Radstock), Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Chair of the Bath and North East Somerset Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “Smoking is still the biggest cause of premature death and disease locally, with 300 people dying prematurely in Bath and North East Somerset each year due to smoking related diseases.
“This Declaration signifies Bath & North East Somerset Council’s commitment to taking strong action to reduce smoking. It lets the tobacco industry and local people know our intention to protect children and young people from becoming addicted to tobacco and to keep illegal tobacco out of our communities.”
Whilst the number of people smoking has declined over time there are still over 23,000 smokers in Bath and North East Somerset, costing public services and the local economy over £39 million every year, including the cost of NHS treatment, lost productivity (sick days and smoking breaks), house fires, clearing up litter and the effects of second hand smoke. Equally every smoker in Bath and North East Somerset is £1,700 per year worse off because of their habit.
Dr Bruce Laurence, the Council’s Director of Public Health, added: ‘Bath & North East Somerset Council already has strong local services to help people to quit smoking. We work with children’s centres, schools and colleges to educate parents, children and young people about the damage smoking does to health. This Declaration will ensure we build on this good work and strengthen the Councils commitment to our vision of a Smoke Free Bath and North East Somerset.”
The Declaration is strongly supported by the wider public health community including
The Trading Standards Association, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and the Association of Directors of Public Health as well as Public Health England, the Public Health Minister and the Chief Medical Officer. Other councils in the country that have signed up include Swindon, Newcastle, Manchester, Salford, Warwickshire, and Hartlepool with more coming on board each month.
Fiona Andrews, Director of Smoke Free South West praised Bath & North East Somerset Council for its vision and leadership on this agenda. She said: “I am absolutely delighted that the Council has taken this step to help lead the way in the South West. Local authorities now have a responsibility to promote public health and by making this declaration Bath & North East Somerset Council is acknowledging how important tobacco control is to improving population health.
“The Council has recently taken part in an external assessment of its approach to tobacco control which showed that it has strong local leadership and some good examples of work to protect young people and helping people to quit. Signing up to the Declaration on Tobacco Control will further strengthen commitment to this work across the Council.”
Cllr Tim Warren (Con, Mendip), Conservative Group Leader, said: “We are fully supportive of the Council signing up to this Declaration, and it was really positive to see support from across the Council for what continues to be a very important issue. Smoking continues to be one of the most significant factors in shortening life expectancy, so it’s absolutely right for Council to take a lead on this issue, particularly given its new responsibilities for overseeing Public Health, which it took over from the NHS this year.”
Cllr John Bull (Lab, Paulton), Labour Group Leader, said: “I am delighted the Council have backed this Declaration which highlights the damaging and possibly lethal effects of tobacco smoking, and promotes work to encourage smokers to give up the habit and to discourage young people from taking it up. I am pleased also that the Council backed a plea to Government to introduce legislation to compel tobacco manufacturers to sell their products in standardised packaging.”