
The Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control was developed by Newcastle City Council. It 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 80 councils across the country have signed the Declaration. In August 2014, a sister document to the Declaration, the NHS Statement of Support for Tobacco Control was launched to allow NHS organisations to show their support for tobacco control.
Commitment
The Declaration commits councils to:
- Reduce smoking prevalence and health inequalities
- Develop plans with partners and local communities
- Participate in local and regional networks
- Support Government action at national level
- Protect tobacco control work from the commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry
- Monitor the progress of our plans
- Join the Smokefree Action Coalition
Advice to councils on contact with the tobacco industry is available to download here.
Endorsement
The Declaration has also been widely endorsed by leading figures and organisations in the public health community:
- Public Health Minister and Chief Medical Officer
- Public Health England
- Association of Directors of Public Health
- Faculty of Public Health
- Chartered Trading Standards Institute
- Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
If you would like to find out more about the Declaration or to notify us that your council has signed the Declaration please email Vicky Salt.
Downloads
There are plenty of helpful documents that can get you on the way to becoming a signatory to the Declaration. These are below.
Signatories to the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control | Five steps to signing | Briefing note | Briefing for councillors | Frequently asked questions | Sample letter to district councils | Sample letter to top tier councils | Implementation guide | Case study: Somerset County Council | Case study: Teignbridge District Council