Agenda item

NHS Brent has provided an update on the Tobacco Control work taking place in the borough. Three separate papers have been provided for the committee to consider and scrutinise:

(i)         Tobacco Control Progress Report

(ii)        NHS Brent Stop Smoking Service Update

(iii)       Clear Thinking - CLeaR Model Assessment for Excellence in Local Tobacco Control - London Borough of Brent

Simon Bowen (Acting Director of Public Health) introduced this item and advised that positive feedback had been received from the CLearR model assessment for excellence in local tobacco control and the assessment had indicated that it was impressed with the range of activities on offer.  The Tobacco Control Cessation Service had exceeded targets and made significant progress, however action needed to be taken with regard to protecting frontline services.  Simon Bowen added that smoking remained the single largest cause of preventable deaths and it was important that the work of the Brent Tobacco Control Service continued to be supported. 

Councillor Hunter enquired whether shisha smoking was high amongst young people and in comparison to cigarette smoking and what action was being taken to reduce smoking for these age groups.  Councillor Gladbaum commented that the Brent Youth Parliament had produced a film about the dangers of shisha smoking.  Councillor Leaman asked if the Brent Tobacco Control Service linked up with IAPT patients in respect of smoking. 

The Chair commented that chewable tobacco was also an issue in the borough and that it was littering pavements. 

In reply, Alison Wilson (Tobacco Control Officer, Brent Tobacco Control Service) advised that both cigarette and shisha smoking was high amongst the young in Brent, with shisha smoking becoming a growing trend.  An audit of young smokers in Brent had been undertaken and the next one was due in two years to identify any changes in smoking habits.  Brent Tobacco Control Service also worked with universities in tackling smoking amongst students, whilst schools were being approached with regard to being sent teaching packs.  Alison Wilson advised that research was being undertaken with regard to the potential harmful effects of chewing tobacco and it was noted that Brent Tobacco Control Service had funded Brent Youth Parliament’s film about shisha smoking. 

Simon Bowen added that any service or organisation was welcome to work with the Brent Tobacco Control Service, whilst the College of North West London had also been approached with a view to setting up smoking cessation advice sessions.

Councillor Hunter then referred to the committee meeting on 14 October 2010 where the committee had requested that the Brent Pension Fund Sub-Committee reconsider the investments that the council had in tobacco firms.  The Brent Pension Fund Sub-Committee had subsequently responded by stating that it was unable to interfere with the actions of Trust Fund managers in respect of this.  Councillor Hunter recommended that the Brent Pension Fund Sub-Committee reconsider this issue and that it consider the CLeaR Model Assessment for Excellence in Local Tobacco Control and a report from ASH on local authority pension fund investments in tobacco companies.

Members then agreed the recommendations as set out below.

RESOLVED:-

(i)         that in the light of Brent’s recent CLeaR Award for excellence in local tobacco control presented at the House of Commons on 15 May 2012, the Brent Pension Fund Sub-Committee reconsiders its decision to continue investing in tobacco companies. This policy is at odds with the council’s work on tobacco control and the support that it gives to the Tobacco Control Alliance and Smoking Cessation Team in the borough;

(ii)        that in considering recommendation 1, the Brent Pension Fund Sub Committee considers two reports - the CLeaR Model Assessment for Excellence in Local Tobacco Control, which is an assessment of the work of Brent’s Tobacco Control Alliance; and, a report from ASH on local authority pension fund investments in tobacco companies, which deals with both the question of ethical versus financial considerations, and the issue of non-interference with fund managers’ decisions, both of which reasons were given in the previous reply from the Brent Pension Fund Sub-Committee in November 2010 for not disinvesting in tobacco companies; and

(iii)       that the Brent Pension Fund Sub Committee notes that although investment in Tobacco Companies in Brent is around £2.5 million, the estimated cost to Brent of smoking, as shown in the  graph on page 9 of CLeaR report is some £57.9 million. The number of annual tobacco-related deaths in Brent, as set out in Brent’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment is 230.