Minutes:
Kaye Mann, Public Health Senior Practitioner, was welcomed to the meeting. Members were made aware that, following on from discussion at the previous meeting, every school in the borough now had resources for Smoke Free Schools. Generally this has been received positively, and an evaluation will take place in due course.
At the previous meeting interest had been expressed in pursuing ‘Smoke Free Areas’ within the South Area, with the aim of contributing to making smoking invisible to children and reducing prevalence.
Following attendance at a business forum in Hoyland it was felt that a more systematic approach should be pursued. In order to further develop the approach, finance was available from the central Invest to Grow fun, and it was suggested that Magpie, an ethical marketing agency, be engaged. Magpie are experts in this field, who work in innovative and exciting ways with the community.
It was proposed that a social norms approach would be taken, fully
involving the community, with positive rather than negative
messages, and residents encouraged to act positively rather than
using enforcement. It was
suggested that Hoyland be utilised as a
pilot area, with Wombwell used as a
control in order to more fully understand the impact. The approach
would be fully evaluated and if successful could be rolled out
wider.
Members noted the time taken to measure public health outcomes, therefore outputs such as perceptions of the area, and observational behaviour change would be measured. It was suggested that the adoption of smoke free areas was ground breaking and was likely to show the area positively in the regional and national press.
Those present were given assurances that, if the initiative was supported, they would be involved at each stage of its development.
Members were supportive of the proposals and acknowledged the need to carefully consider the size of the area to be smoke free, with too large being potentially unworkable and too small potentially lacking impact. The links with the Principal Towns Initiative were noted, as was the desire to extend the scope of the Smoke Free Play Area in Elsecar Park to cover the whole park.
RESOLVED:-
(i) That thanks be given for the presentation; and
(ii) That the development of an approach to the adoption of Smoke Free Areas in the South Area be supported.