Membership Of Committee
The committee must have a minimum of six elected members and should be made up of equal numbers of local contractors and performers. Up to three members may be co-opted to achieve the exact balance between local contractors and performers. LOCSU recommends that at least one local dispensing optician who is not a contractor is properly included in their membership.
Chair, Secretary and Treasurer are elected from the committee.
Observers such as optometric advisors should be invited and encouraged to attend meetings of LOCs, if only for part of the agenda.
Finances
A Committee’s expenses should be met by means of a statutory levy on the GOS sight test fees payable to local contractors. The committee’s proposed expenses should be incorporated in the Committee’s annual budget or business plan to be agreed at the Annual General Meeting. The LOC should notify the local NHS England team of the budget and levy.
Holding An AGM
The AGM is an opportunity for the LOC officers to update contractors and performers on the activities of the LOC and of plans for the future. Whilst not part of the formal proceedings, it is also an opportunity to have a guest speaker (possibly with CET points arising) — perhaps a local ophthalmologist or charity representative — and the more attractive the agenda and speaker topic the greater the opportunity to attract a good attendance.
LOCSU has produced guidance designed to assist LOCs with the planning of their AGMs, which should be arranged within three months of the end of the committee’s financial year: