Aberdeen City Council will consider plans to ban on site smoking

The move would outlaw smoking in all Aberdeen City Council areas and remove current designated smoking zones.

The policy would apply to visitors, employees, councillors, contractors and the public who use its premises.

The new rules would also include plans to prevent the council from advertising or receiving sponsorship from tobacco products.

The proposals have been put forward by the council's director of personnel and organisational development, Richard Parker.

The council's existing smoking policy has been in place since November 1996 and is in need of revision Richard Parker Aberdeen City Council

The only exception to the new no smoking policy would be designated smoking areas in the council's residential homes and day centres for adults and older people, as these are considered to be dwelling places.

In this case, any employees required to work in those areas and exposed to passive smoking would be subjected to an annual risk assessment and offered health checks.

They would also be entitled to have their workload adjusted to ensure they are able to work in smoke-free areas as much as possible.

Mr Parker's plans will be presented to the council's resources management committee next week.

He said: "The council's existing smoking policy has been in place since November 1996 and is in need of revision.

"This review is pertinent in light of the Scottish Executive's consultative exercise in relation to smoking in public places and the considerable associated debate in relation to the potential dangers of passive smoking.

"Health and Safety Executive guidance states that any policy should give priority to the needs of non-smokers who do not wish to breathe tobacco smoke."