CENTRAL (LOCAL OPTICAL COMMITTEE) FUND
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2008 on FRIDAY 21st NOVEMBER 2008 at the CHESFORD GRANGE HOTEL, KENILWORTH CV8 2LD
PRESENT:
Administrators:
Mr K. Chapple, Chairman of the Administrators (Region 4 – London & South)
Mr M.V. Shinn, Immediate past chairman of the Administrators (Region 3 – Central & West)
Mr. K. Bardolia (Region 5 - Eastern)
M/s S. Bennett (Region 1 – North East)
M/s R. Cuthbert (Region 2 – North West)
In Attendance:
Mr R.K. Brackley, Treasurer and Secretary to the Fund
Representatives of 41 Local Optical Committees signed in to the AGM
- Chairman’s Introduction
The Chairman welcomed the Representatives of the L.O.C.s and professional bodies attending the Meeting.
- Minutes of the 2007 A.G.M.
The Minutes of the A.G.M. held on Thursday 25th October 2007 were confirmed as a true record and signed.
- Report of the Chair of the Administrators
The Chairman handed the meeting over to Mike Shinn the immediate past chairman who was chairman for the year under review.
The Chairman’s Report, which had been distributed, was approved.
The matter of continuing the income to the Fund was raised from the floor, reminding the delegates that it was decreasing because some L.O.C.s have stopped collecting a Voluntary levy.One reason for this being comments (disputed) on the possibility of alternative funding. Following a motion at the last AGM asking the Administrators to look for a more equitable means of collecting revenue, the chairman said that, in his opinion, the Voluntary levy, being paid by individuals on a voluntary basis must surely be the most equitable method of funding. Positive comments as to the worth of the Fund were made from the floor along with suggestions as to possible means of increasing donations to the Fund. (Currently employed and locum optometrists have no means of contributing). These included raising the profile of the Fund by articles in the optical press, more contact with L.O.C.s, a wider distribution of mandates and even the possibility of taking ownership of N.E.H.E.M. (the Fund was the sole financier of stage 1 of the project) and selling access to it.
- Presentation of Accounts and Report from the Treasurer
The Inspected Accounts were accepted. The Treasurer’s Report was accepted
- Resolutions received from L.O.C.s
No resolutions had been received.
- Rate of the Voluntary Levy
The Chairman recommended that the rate for the Voluntary levy for the ensuing year should remain at 2% of the G.O.S. Sight Test fee. This was accepted.
- Election of Auditors
It was proposed that Messrs. E.G. Hughes & Co. continue as Auditors to the Central (L.O.C.) Fund. This was accepted.
- Closure of the A.G.M.
The chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the A.G.M.