A BID to improve the health of Somerset residents by encouraging local authorities to sign up to a document designed to stamp-out smoking has been branded as "nanny state-ism gone mad".

The newly formed Somerset County Council-led Health and Wellbeing Board wants all district councils to support a Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control.

The declaration - described as "a response to the enormous and ongoing damage smoking does to our communities" - spells out the health and financial impacts of smoking and commits those who sign up to it to take action to reduce smoking, "health inequalities" and to prevent the harm caused by tobacco.

At last Wednesday's West Somerset Council cabinet meeting, councillors were told smoking was an "epidemic created and sustained by the tobacco industry".

They were told people would have more money to spend in the local economy if they did not smoke and more than 80,000 people died in England each year from smoking-related diseases.

"Workers in manual and routine jobs are twice as likely to smoke as those in managerial and professional roles.

"The poorer and more disadvantaged you are, the more likely you are to smoke and, as a result, to suffer smoking-related disease.

"Ill-health caused by smoking is, therefore, much more common among the poorest and most disadvantaged in society," Ian Timms, the council's former welfare manager and the new assistant director for business development, told councillors.

Cllr Keith Turner, the authority's lead member for health and well-being, urged his colleagues to sign the tobacco declaration and said other councils had already pledged their support.

"I think it is necessary to protect the local community from the impact smoking has on people.

"The best thing anyone has done is brought in the smoking ban in public places as you can now go into a restaurant or a pub and come out without reeking of smoke," Cllr Turner said.

But while he was supported by non-cabinet members Cllrs Maureen Smith and Doug Ross, his cabinet colleagues were not so impressed.

Environment lead member Cllr Anthony Trollope-Bellew refused to support the document: "This is nanny state-ism gone ballistic, it's gone too far.

"I'm in all in favour of raising the age at which people can buy cigarettes to 21 and to make sure enforcement is policed more strongly, but this is nanny state-ism gone mad."

Fellow cabinet member Cllr Chris Morgan - himself a smoker - left the chamber before the debate, declaring he was unable to discuss the document with an open mind.

"I cannot debate something I see as draconian so I will leave the chamber," Cllr Morgan said.

Council chairman Cllr Stuart Dowding branded the declaration a "toothless bulldog" and said there was no point signing something just because it was there.

Cllr Keith Ross agreed and added: "Smoking is a filthy habit but all the efforts put into this are a waste of time.

"People will give up when they want want to give up.

"It's a personal choice what people spend their money on."

Council leader Cllr Tim Taylor said he fully understood the harm caused by smoking and understood the sentiments behind the declaration but said he could not sign something that committed the council to unknown actions that it might not be able to carry out or monitor.

"We do not have the procedures in place to bring any of this about.

"It is relatively meaningless unless we can say what will happen in West Somerset," Cllr Taylor said.

Cllr Dave Westcott said he was disappointed the health and well-being board had not suggested any action points to reduce smoking but had only asked people to sign the declaration.

Cllr Karen Mills added: "The biggest issue is that this is asking this council to sign, date and monitor plans and publish results.

"This is the cart before the horse. I don't think this council has the capacity to do this."

Cllr Kate Kravis said it would have been more helpful if the board had put forward recommendations on how to try and reduce smoking in the county rather than just lecturing about the effects of smoking.

"Although we do need to put across our support for the board and our support for a non-smoking initiative," Cllr Kravis said.

Simon Lewis, the council's assistant director for housing and community development, said councillors at Taunton Deane Borough Council had already signed the declaration, viewing it as "an intention" and an awareness-raising exercise.

Cabinet member Cllr Steven Pugsley said he could also see no reason why the council should not sign the document, while Cllr Doug Ross added: "We shouldn't quibble about details.

"It's up to us to develop plans. We should be signing up to this as it's committing ourselves to doing something."

Cabinet members eventually decided to formally record their support for the aims behind the declaration but called for further information before actually signing it.

The health and well-being board - chaired by Dunster county councillor Christine Lawrence with Dulverton and Exmoor member Cllr Frances Nicholson as vice-chairman - is due to meet again at the end of the month.

The board is made up of health professionals and district and county councillors from across Somerset.

Its remit is to improve residents' lives by bringing together the NHS, local authorities and communities and is a "shadow board" of the county council's cabinet, rather than a decision-making committee.