Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director of People.

The Cabinet Member with the Health and Housing Portfolio introduced the report (previously circulated) of the Executive Director of People which invited Cabinet to support and welcome the North East Declaration for a Smoke Free Future.

The submitted report stated that towards the end of 2023, a new North East Declaration for Smoke Free Future was launched by Fresh, the Association of Directors of Public Health North East and the NHS North East and North Cumbria NHS Integrated Care Board. It was reported that this was a UK first for any region to have such a clear statement of intent and to demonstrate the scale of commitment and collaboration.

RESOLVED - (a) That Members support the progress made in Darlington working towards a Smoke Free Future.

(b) That Members welcomed joining the other 11 North East Local Authorities in supporting and endorsing the North East Declaration for a Smoke Free Future.

REASONS – (a) Smoking causes harm throughout people’s lives, and is a major cause of  preventable ill health, disability and death and is a driver of health inequalities.

(b)   Recent data shows that almost 7,000 adults in Darlington smoke.

(c)    Making smoking history is a priority in the Darlington Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy.