One in three people in the city smoke

The report, published on Monday, calls for a phased approach to smoke-free status within three to five years.

A special select committee was established earlier this year to look into the city going smoke-free.

It said it wanted to move towards being smoke free but without infringing people's freedom of choice.

Council vote

The select committee's report has made a series of recommendations for the city council's cabinet.

It said the council should consider increasing the number of indoor public places which banned smoking, stopping smoking in children's playgrounds and reviewing the council's own policy to staff who smoke outside the entrances to council buildings.

The report will be voted on by the full council possibly at its meeting in January.

Councillor Mary Aspinall of the council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee said: "Getting the balance right of a person's right to choose to smoke is not easy.

"That is why we are recommending a staggered approach."