Issue - meetings

Further to consideration of a report which was brought to the Meeting of the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services and Advisory Panel and approved on 7 June 2007, this report provides Members with an update on how  smokefree legislation has been implemented in the City of York Council area.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to note the contents of the report.

Decision of the Executive Member:

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  In order that the Executive Member and Advisory Panel are  updated on how smokefree legislation has been implemented in the City of York Council area.

Further to a report which was brought to and approved at the Meeting of the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services and Advisory Panel on 7 June 2008, Members received a report which provided an update on how smokefree legislation had been implemented in the City of York Council area.

The Assistant Director (Neighbourhoods and Community Safety) reported that the level of compliance had been high and people had generally accepted the new legislation. He advised Members that now the two temporary Smokefree Officer posts, which had been funded through the grant, had expired, the occasional complaints being received had been incorporated into the existing work load of enforcement officers in the health and safety team.

Members discussed the consequences of the smokefree legislation and it was noted that there had been an increase in planning applications for smoking shelters at licensed premises. Members also discussed the problem of increased noise outside premises where people congregated to smoke and chat and also an increase in litter caused by people not recognising dropping cigarette ends at littering.

The Assistant Director (Neighbourhoods and Community Safety) acknowledged the problems. He advised Members that enforcement action was taking place and some fixed penalty notices had been issued. Furthermore his team were liaising with businesses with regard to providing ashtrays/bins to staff/customers smoking outside and cleaning up around buildings where people had been smoking. With regard to the noise problem he advised Members that a report from the Noise Nuisance Team would be brought to the Committee in the near future.

The Executive Member conveyed Members’ thanks to officers for their hard work in the implementation of the legislation.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to note the contents of the report.

Decision of the Executive Member:

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  In order that the Executive Member and Advisory Panel are  updated on how smokefree legislation has been implemented in the City of York Council area.