Decision details

It was moved by Councillor Moncur, seconded by Councillor Lappin and

RESOLVED Unanimously: That:

Sefton Council notes that:

·       Preventable disease continues to have a massive impact on the public’s health, the NHS and the economy.

·       Tobacco is the biggest preventable cause of cancer and premature death in the UK.

·       Decades of comprehensive policy action have meant adult smoking prevalence in the UK in 2019 was at a record low at 14.1%, but this masks significant inequality.

·       Differences in smoking rates make it one of the leading drivers of health inequalities, responsible for half the difference in life expectancy between the lowest and highest income groups in England.

Further notes:

·       That through their public health duties, local authorities are responsible for improving the health of their population and do this through services such as stop smoking services and wider tobacco control activities.

·       Believes that Sefton must be adequately resourced to fulfil their public health duties.

·       Supports Cancer Research UK’s calls for a Smokefree Fund (a fixed annual charge on the tobacco industry, making the tobacco industry pay for the damage their products cause, without being able to influence how the funds are spent) to fund local tobacco control work, and urges this Conservative Government to consider implementing a Smokefree Fund as part of its efforts to tackle health inequalities.