Council staff are to be banned from taking smoking breaks from next month.

Smoking will be stopped in all Kirklees Council buildings, and the Council will even ask people not to smoke in their own homes if they are being visited by authority staff.

Kirklees Council leader Kath Pinnock said the move was part of the Council's drive to create smoke free environments for its employees.

Public sector union Unison says it was unfair to prevent people who are addicted from being able to smoke.

The smoking policy, which comes into effect on April 30, will mean staff are not allowed to light up in Council buildings, outside entrances or in courtyards owned by the authority.

All smoking rooms will be closed and staff who flout the ban will face disciplinary action. Offending councillors will be referred to the authority's Standards Committee.

From September, staff will not be allowed to take smoking breaks - but time off will be offered for people to attend quit smoking schemes and cash will be available towards the cost of nicotine therapy.

The authority is urging Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing, which runs the Council's former housing stock, and Kirklees Active Leisure, which runs sports facilities, to develop similar policies. From 2006, the smoking ban will also apply to all public refreshment areas run by the council.

Coun Pinnock said: "We want to encourage more people to give up smoking and create more smoke free areas.

"It is important for us as the biggest public organisation in Kirklees to make this step. We hope other people will follow our lead."

Unison's Kirklees branch secretary Paul Holmes said: "Our concern is the health and safety of our members so we do not have an issue with the no smoking policy.

"The only thing which bothers us is who the ban applies to. If you are a senior manager who is mobile you will still be able to smoke in your own time.

"The people who will suffer are lower paid staff like receptionists or clerical staff who are stuck in one place.

"Smoking is an addiction, it is a medical condition. You cannot say people are not allowed to smoke if they are addicted. I do not think people should be allowed paid smoke breaks but people should be allowed to smoke in their own time."

Bradford Council does not allow staff to smoke on its premises outside of designated smoking rooms.

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