Issue - meetings

This report will give an overview of how the council intends to utilise new resource from the Section 31 Local Stop Smoking Services and Support Grant 2024-2025 grant, where the city has been allocated an initial £196,000 from Department of Health and Social Care to be spent on reducing smoking in York in 2024/2025, with grant expected to continue each year until 2028/2029.

Resolved:

                      i.         Approved the use of the Local Stop Smoking Services and Support Grant 2024-2025 as outlined in this paper, including:

a) the expansion of the council’s stop smoking support;

b) the expansion of treatments and the offer of additional stop smoking medications;

c) additional community outreach to smokers, particularly those in disadvantaged groups in the city;

d) additional communications activity to drive up smoking quit rates.

                    ii.         Approved the use of the Local Stop Smoking Services and Support Grant in future years (subject to funding) in line with the approach outlined in this report.

Reason:     To help build a smokefree generation in York.

The Director of Public Health introduced the report highlighting that 1 in 2 smokers would die from affects relating to smoking. He confirmed that the rate of smoking was decreasing but that the aim should be to create a smoke free generation. He confirmed that the report sought to use additional grant funding to bolster the number of health trainers and expand the 4 week offer of support to 10 weeks for those trying to quit smoking.

The Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care welcomed the opportunity for additional investment in support to stop smoking. She highlighted the Executives aim to tackle health inequalities in the city and noted the good work done by health trainers in the city.

Resolved:

                      i.         Approved the use of the Local Stop Smoking Services and Support Grant 2024-2025 as outlined in this paper, including:

a) the expansion of the council’s stop smoking support;

b) the expansion of treatments and the offer of additional stop smoking medications;

c) additional community outreach to smokers, particularly those in disadvantaged groups in the city;

d) additional communications activity to drive up smoking quit rates.

                    ii.         Approved the use of the Local Stop Smoking Services and Support Grant in future years (subject to funding) in line with the approach outlined in this report.

Reason:     To help build a smokefree generation in York.