Health and wellbeing
Walsall Council signs tobacco control declaration in commitment to a smoke-free future
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Walsall Council has signed the Local Government Tobacco Control Declaration, demonstrating its commitment to ensure tobacco control is part of mainstream public health work and taking action to address the harms of smoking.
The declaration was signed on Friday 8 March by Councillor Mike Bird, Leader of the Council; Emma Bennett, Chief Executive and Nadia Inglis, Interim Director of Public Health.
Councillor Garry Perry (Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Resilient Communities) and Councillor Gary Flint (Portfolio Holder for Wellbeing, Leisure and Public Spaces) also added their signatures to the declaration.
The agreement to sign the declaration was previously approved at a meeting of Cabinet on 13 December 2023, along with the Tobacco Control Plan for 2023-2027.
The declaration was relaunched in March 2022 to bring it in line with the Government’s ambition for England to be smokefree by 2030. The commitments detailed in the declaration are complementary to Walsall’s new Tobacco Control Plan and We are Walsall 2040 Borough Plan.
The declaration serves as a public testament to Walsall Council's unwavering commitment to reduce smoking and protect the health and wellbeing of the people of Walsall.
“ Smoking is the leading preventable cause of ill-health and premature death nationally. Although Walsall has seen a steady decline in people smoking, there is still more work to be done, especially in supporting those groups in highest need. This includes pregnant women, routine and manual workers and those with long-term mental health conditions.
To support residents to quit smoking, we already have a range of excellent services commissioned by Walsall Council Public Health. This includes Be Well Walsall provided by Maximus UK, the More Life Digital ‘My Smoke Free Life’ App and specialist support for pregnant women delivered by Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.
We plan to enhance services, prevent residents from starting smoking or vaping, enhance local regulation and enforcement (including vaping) and work effectively with key partners to support the ambitions in our Tobacco Control Plan over the next four years. “
“ Signing the relaunched Tobacco Control Declaration is another significant step that the council is making to reduce smoking in our communities and deliver on the ambitions outlined in the Tobacco Control Plan and We are Walsall 2040.
Enhancing regulation and enforcement forms part of this commitment. We will tackle this by deploying tobacco control activities such as dealing with complaints, compliance monitoring around under-age sales of tobacco products, as well as tackling illicit tobacco products. We remain unwavering in our promise to ensure a healthy and smoke free community for all our residents. “
The Tobacco Control Plan for 2023-2027 complements national legislation, which includes raising the smoking age by a year each year, as well as additional investments in local stop smoking support services and enforcement activity to tackle illicit tobacco and support vape-related restrictions.
The Safer Walsall Partnership will oversee the implementation of the Tobacco Control Plan, with effective health partnership governance being provided through the Health and Wellbeing Board.
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Notes to editor:
- The Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control is a statement of a council’s commitment to ensure tobacco control is part of mainstream public health work and commits councils to taking comprehensive action to address the harm from smoking. Since it was launched in May 2013, over 120 councils across the country have signed the Declaration. Approval was given at Cabinet on 13 December 2023 to sign the declaration and a copy of the declaration can be downloaded from CMIS.
- To download the Tobacco Control Plan for 2023-27, visit the Walsall Intelligence website.
- In October 2023, the Government published its paper Stopping the start: our new plan to create a smokefree generation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). It sets out proposed actions the government will take to protect future generations from the harms of smoking, by creating the first smokefree generation. It also sets out wider measures to support existing smokers to quit smoking, crack down on youth vaping and ensure the law is enforced.
- Safer Walsall Partnership is the strategic partnership with responsibility for addressing crime, disorder and drug and alcohol misuse within the borough of Walsall. It is made up of a number of partner organisations such as Walsall Council, West Midlands Police, West Midlands Fire Service, the Probation Service, Black Country Integrated Care Board (Health) and Walsall Housing Group. It also includes representatives from other key organisations including education and the Police and Crime Commissioner.
- The Council’s Trading Standards team plays a crucial role in curbing smoking through various tobacco control activities. This includes addressing complaints, monitoring compliance concerning under-age tobacco sales, and combating the sale of illegal tobacco products. They achieved impressive results between September 2021 and September 2023, where they seized 20,224 illegal vapes, 392,917 illegal cigarettes and 199.05kg of illegal hand rolling tobacco.
- Anyone living, working or registered with a GP in Walsall can access free, funded stop smoking support and begin their smoke free journey. Download the My Smoke Free App at Home MSFL Walsall - My Smoke Free Life Walsall.
- Residents can also access stop smoking support from Be Well Walsall by going to https://bww.maximusuk.co.uk/, calling 01922 444044 or email bewellwalsall@maximusuk.co.uk.
