Don't Smoke at Home

You know, I think I can see the problem with this:

Smokers are to be asked not to smoke in their own homes to protect council staff.

Health and safety officers at Liverpool city council have drawn up plans to request residents not to smoke at least half an hour before a visit by staff and to open windows and not light up during a home visit.

OK, fatuous nonsense to begin with.

But if residents insist on smoking at home during a visit from a council employee the visit will be ended and they will be asked to attend a council office - which comes under the nationwide smoking ban from July 1.

Mmmm. So all council visits to the home can be dealt with by visits to the council offices, can they?  That, I assume, is why council officers have the powers to demand entry?

The rules will apply to residents in both council houses and private homes being visited by staff, including social workers, enforcement officers and planning officers.

So the social worker comes around to inspect the house for suitability for fostering say, or to see how children on hte at risk register are living, and this will transfer to the council offices? Those enforcing the fire regulations will do so from their offices? Planners will check lofts from there?

Fatuous nonsense indeed. If all of these things can indeed be done from offices then why are the council officers spending their time tramping the streets then?