Decision details

Smokefree Play Areas - Introduction of a Voluntary Code

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Decisions:

(Cabinet Members with Special Responsibility Councillors Leytham and Smith)

 

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Health and Housing) which sought approval to introduce a voluntary code of no smoking within children’s play areas and young people’s play facilities located in parks and open spaces owned by the Council.

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

 

 

Option 1: Approve the introduction of a voluntary code of no smoking in Council owned play areas.

Option 2: Do not approve the introduction of a voluntary code of no smoking in Council owned play areas.

Advantages

Reduce child exposure to smoking and help to decrease the number of young people starting to smoke.

Decrease cigarette litter such as cigarette butts, empty packets and wrappers to make play areas more pleasant and to protect wildlife.

Encourage play area users to discourage smokers in play areas.

Project contributes to health and wellbeing targets.

None

Disadvantages

Cost of installing the signs.

There may be opposition from smokers who feel we shouldn’t go beyond the statutory controls.

 

Missed opportunity to work in partnership with county public health to help address a health and wellbeing issue.

Risks

Future maintenance costs could be high. However, this is unlikely as the signs will be of robust quality and require little maintenance.

Reputational risk – not implementing this would be at odds with our health and wellbeing priority.

 

 

Option 1 – The introduction of a voluntary no smoking code is entirely consistent with the Council’s health and wellbeing corporate priority and can be achieved with minimum impact on Council resources.

 

Councillor Leytham proposed, seconded by Councillor David Smith:-

 

“That the recommendation, as set out in the report, be approved.”

 

Councillors then voted:-

 

 

Resolved:

 

(7 Members (Councillors Blamire, Bryning, Hamilton-Cox, Hanson, Leytham, Sands and Smith) voted in favour, and 1 Member (Councillor Barry) abstained.)

 

 

(1)             That the introduction of a voluntary code of no smoking within Council owned play areas, skate parks and multi-use play areas be approved.

 

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Chief Officer (Health and Housing)

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

Reducing child exposure to smoking and de-normalising tobacco use within the community is desirable to try to reduce smoking uptake rates amongst young people.  Smoking is still a major public health problem and implementing a voluntary code of no smoking in play areas is one way of the Council contributing to addressing the health, social and financial impacts of smoking.  In addition, smoking related litter should reduce in play areas and this also addresses another important priority of the Council.

 

Report author: Julie Whincap

Publication date: 09/12/2014

Date of decision: 02/12/2014

Decided at meeting: 02/12/2014 - Cabinet

Effective from: 17/12/2014

Accompanying Documents: