Agenda item

A report

a)    outlining the aims of the Tobacco Alliance, and to champion the work across the partnership

b)    providing an update on the All Party Parliamentary Group Smoking & Health recommendations prior to the release of the Tobacco Control Plan for England

Contact:  Rebecca Gunn, Public Health Manager:  Tel: 01484 221000

Rebecca Gunn, Public Health Manager, presented a report which outlined the partnership response to shaping tobacco control in Kirklees. 

The Board was informed that by way of background, the government set out its ambition that England will be smoke free by 2030, which is defined as rates of less than 5%.   It is widely acknowledged that this will be a challenge particularly in areas of deprivation and among people living with mental health conditions for example.  Therefore, bold action will be required both to discourage young people from taking up smoking and also support smokers to quit. 

In the two years since this ambition was stated, it is estimated that around 200,000 children under the age of 16 will have started smoking and without action two thirds of those will go on to become regular smokers.  It is really important within Kirklees that action is taken to drive down this prevalence through discouraging people from starting in the first place and supporting people to quit and normalising non-smoking within the communities.

Within Kirklees, there is a dispersed, model of smoking cessation across GP's, pharmacies and community providers for example, Auntie Pam’s service and the Wellness service.  They are doing some interesting work in terms of trying to encourage people to come to give up smoking in a range of different ways.

In order to achieve the government’s ambition to be smoke free, there needs to be a district wide approach to tackling tobacco, and it was a good opportunity to strengthen the partnership approach.   With the support of the Portfolio Holder for Health and Social Care, work has begun to formalise a tobacco alliance (name to be to be to be confirmed for Kirklees).

There have been two virtual meetings held so far, with quite broad representation, including people from people from housing, licensing, the acute trusts, the mental health trust, Yorkshire Cancer Research and Public Health England. It is important to keep momentum going and work has started on drafting an action plan.

The partnerships aim is to reduce smoking prevalence for a healthier tobacco free future for the children and young people in Kirklees and looking to align to the ambition to make Kirklees smoke free by 2030.

The Board was informed that on the 9^th June 2021, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Smoking and Health launched its report and recommendations for the forthcoming Tobacco Control Plan to secure the government’s ambition of a smoke free country by 2030. 

Within the report that there are there are twelve recommendations, and it is important to note the ones which relate to the funding of tobacco control programs through a tobacco control levy.   It proposes that funding be secured through a ‘polluter pays’ amendment to the health and social care bill, which forces manufacturers to pay to deliver end of smoking. The levy on manufactures is expected to raise £700m in the first year.

Another key recommendation calls for targeted investment to provide additional support to help smokers quit in regions and communities where smoking does the most damage, for example, areas where people work in more routine and manual jobs, and people who are unemployed and people with mental health conditions.

The Board was informed that the next Tobacco Control Plan for England is due to be published in October 2021 and was asked to note the recommendations and to support the call for the tobacco levy. 

The Board agreed it would be useful to have a further timely update once the report had been published to comment and understand how things are working and contribute to that discussion.

The Board commented that the information presented links into the conversations around the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the need to look at new and different ways to approach some of the challenges that have been around for a long time.   The work of the alliance will do that and help to embed tackling inequalities which is a key priority for the Council and its partners.

The Board further commented on the connotations of the name ‘tobacco alliance’ and was advised that it has been introduced by that name in other areas and therefore Kirklees also went with that name, however this could be looked at.

The Board was asked to comment and make a formal decision regarding the reporting arrangements on the following recommendations:

-         Tobacco Alliance is recognised as formally accountable to the Health and Wellbeing Board

-         Health and Wellbeing Board receive updates regarding the work of the Tobacco Alliance on a regular basis as agreed by the Board

-         Health and Wellbeing Board will shape the work of the Tobacco Alliance and influence the agenda at a strategic level

RESOLVED

-       That the draft action plan once formulated would be shared with the Board for feedback

-       That timely updates on the work of the Tobacco Alliance would be presented to the Board