Agenda item

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services/Director of Open Spaces

The Committee were informed of the proposal of implementing voluntary no smoking codes within children’s playgrounds, for a trial period of six months, in four identified areas in the City:

·        Middlesex Street estate

·        Tower Hill Gardens

·        Portsoken Street

·        West Smithfield Rotunda Garden

Officers informed Members that the key aim of smokefree children’s playgrounds was to deter children and young people from smoking. In response to a query, Members noted that the objectives included to:

·        Reduce child exposure to smoking and help to decrease the number of young people starting to smoke.

·        Decrease cigarette litter such as cigarette ends, empty packets and wrappers to playgrounds more pleasant and to protect wildlife.

·        Reduce the risk of children putting toxic cigarettes ends into their mouths

·        A consultation exercise has been carried out with the public and Friends of City

·        Gardens, which evidenced support for this initiative.

In response to a query regarding enforcement, Members were informed that this was a voluntary scheme, but the success would be measured through visits to the areas at the start, middle and end of the trial.

Members noted that the proposal was for a six month trial, after which the results would be reported back to the Committee. Members also noted that there were now a range of places where people were either not allowed to smoke or encouraged not to smoke; therefore the City Corporation should act responsibly sympathetic. It was also noted that there were now a number of smoking cessation groups available within the City.