Councillor A Alideclared a personal interest in Agenda item 9.2 “Responses to the Recommendations of the Health Scrutiny Panel - Tobacco Cessation”. The declaration of interest was made on the basis that the report contained recommendations relating to the Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust and Councillor Ali was an employee of the Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust (partner in general practitioner’s practice in Spitalfields).

Resolved:

1. That subject to (a) below the Action Plan attached at Appendix A to the report (CAB 029/089), in response to the recommendations from the Health Scrutiny Panel Working Group on Tobacco Cessation, be approved;

Addition of new Recommendation 10.

That in relation to the various tobacco cessation initiatives set out in the action plan the Primary Care Trust undertake a locally focused communications campaign utilising local expertise (eg Council expertise in targeting BME communities) and resources (eg BME media) to an optimum;

2.                  That the contents of the report of the Health Scrutiny Panel Working Group on Tobacco Cessation, attached at Appendix B to the report (CAB 029/089), together with the findings and associated conclusions/ recommendations be noted.

Action by

ACTING ASSISTANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE (M. KEATING)

Scrutiny Policy Officer,Scrutiny and Equalities, Chief Executive’s (S. Matin)

Councillor A Alideclared a personal interest in Agenda item 9.2 “Responses to the Recommendations of the Health Scrutiny Panel - Tobacco Cessation”. The declaration of interest was made on the basis that the report contained recommendations relating to the Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust and Councillor Ali was an employee of the Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust (partner in general practitioner’s practice in Spitalfields).

Councillor Ali, Lead Member Health and Wellbeing, welcomed the report of the Health Scrutiny Panel, as reflective of the excellent review which it had conducted, but believed that it did not sufficiently address the need to target the significant number of Bangladeshi smokers in Tower Hamlets. Councillor Ali considered that the various tobacco cessation initiatives set out in the Action Plan should have a local focus, for example using the stories of local residents and workers as a vehicle for the desired message to unfold. Also that the Primary Care Trust should optimise the use of local resources, such as a developed BME media, and utilise local expertise, for example that of the Authority in reaching BME communities, in the associated communications campaign.  Accordingly Councillor Ali proposed the following amendment to the recommendation contained in paragraph 2.1 of the report, for the consideration of members of the Cabinet:-

“That the Action Plan attached at Appendix A to the report be approved subject to the addition of a new recommendation that in relation to the various tobacco cessation initiatives set out in the action plan the Primary Care Trust undertake a locally focused communications campaign utilising local expertise (eg Council expertise in targeting BME communities) and resources (eg BME media) to an optimum.”

Mr Keating, Acting Assistant Chief Executive, advised that the Health Scrutiny Panel would review progress in relation to the Action Plan, at their meeting to be held in November 2008, and Councillor Ali’s proposal would be further discussed at that point.

The Chair informed members of the Cabinet that the recommendation contained in paragraph 2.1 requested Cabinet approval of the action plan whilst that contained in paragraph 2.2 requested that Cabinet consider the report of the Health Scrutiny Panel Working Group. Accordingly the Chair Moved the following motion, taking account of the amendment proposed by Councillor Ali, for the consideration of members of the Cabinet and it was: -

Resolved:

1. That subject to (a) below the Action Plan attached at Appendix A to the report (CAB 029/089), in response to the recommendations from the Health Scrutiny Panel Working Group on Tobacco Cessation, be approved;

Addition of new Recommendation 10.

That in relation to the various tobacco cessation initiatives set out in the action plan the Primary Care Trust undertake a locally focused communications campaign utilising local expertise (eg Council expertise in targeting BME communities) and resources (eg BME media) to an optimum;

2.                  That the contents of the report of the Health Scrutiny Panel Working Group on Tobacco Cessation, attached at Appendix B to the report (CAB 029/089), together with the findings and associated conclusions/ recommendations be noted.