Decision Maker: Full Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: March 26, 2025

Purpose:

Content: Councillor Graham Oakes proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Dawn Denton.   Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Council Resolved to endorse the following:- Policy and Leadership 1.    System leaders from across sectors to show commitment to tobacco work. The Somerset Board and constituent organisations should commit to a refreshed Local Declaration on Tobacco Control, including a commitment to not work with tobacco companies. 2.    Support to Trading Standards to enforce the new tobacco and vaping legislation. 3.    Development of a Somerset system-wide set of performance measures for progress against our target of 45,000 people quitting by 2030. Organisations and institutions 4.    Support local workplaces to develop smoke-free policies that adhered to smoke-free legislation, public sector organisations in Somerset should be exemplar employers. 5.    Specific commitment across our health services to develop stop smoking services at hospital sites. 100% of patients should be asked if they smoke and offered support to stop. 6.    100% of pregnant women and partners should be screened using carbon monoxide monitors at booking and throughout pregnancy and provided with appropriate support. 7.    Support schools, hospitals and care infrastructure to develop and embed clear policies for smoking and vaping. Communities and individuals 8.    Launch new, fresh communication and training campaigns that took a compassionate approach to smoking, supporting front line workers and members of our communities to have non-judgmental Very Brief Advice conversations about stopping smoking at every opportunity and signpost to support. 9.    Strong engagement with people in Somerset to develop a new Somerset-wide action plan which developed services to meet the needs of people to stop smoking and protected people from second-hand smoke and smoking-related behaviour. 10.Focus our support on groups with the highest rates of smoking, use behavioural science research to understand what would work best to help them to stop smoking as well as to create supportive Smokefree environments that prevent starting.