The Cottons Hotel, Knutsford

2015 AGM

Minutes of AGM 2015 The Cottons Hotel, Knutsford. Monday 27th April 2015 at 7.00pm

Present: Committee members -Lyn Thompson (Chairman), Nigel Oldbury (Vice-Chair), Cathryn Tripp (Secretary), Paul Redhead (Treasurer), Lyndon Taylor, Harinder Notay, Rupesh Bagdai, Keith Cooper, Chris Houghton, Helen Denton, Amy Thompson, Jo Mackenzie. Non LOC Members- Jane Barker, Jill Umpleby, John Blaney, Tim Bramwell, Liz Cook, Will Cooke, Theresa Cox, Wendy Diddams, Cheryl Goodwin, Sue Hanafy, Christine Harm, John Harm, Hilary Higgins, Emma Jones, David Knowles, Gary Lesser, Phillipa Longmore, Laura McCall, Cahir Mullen, David Lundstram, Bev Nelson, Deborah Pickin, Gillian Sherratt, Mark Simpson, Fionualla Stott, Vanessa Taylor, James Wheeldon, Victoria Williams.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1. Apologies: Hugh Churchman, Jed Allister, Sarah Lorenz, Chi Choi, Ian Dobson, Gordon Elliot, Bev nelson, Pam Bramwell, Keith Williams, Liz Taylor.

2. Minutes of the 20014 AGM: These had been circulated and were approved as a true and accurate record. Proposer: Jo Mackenzie Seconder: Harinder Notay.

3. Matters arising: None

4. Chairman’s Report- Lyn reported that the LOC’s main activity over the past year had been to increase the role of community optometry in providing eye care enhanced services. The current direct cataract referral and glaucoma repeat readings services were on borrowed time and the transfer time from the Local Area Team to the Clinical Commissioning groups had been extended but had to end on 31st March this year. So far with Rupesh’s help Eastern Cheshire has commissioned a new and improved GRR service and has shown an encouraging interest in a new cataract service (pre and post). He went on to say that South Cheshire and Vale Royal CCG did not have any plans to commission enhanced services at present but wished to extend the current service, which has prompted further dialogue. Western Cheshire has shown interest in commissioning GRR, OHT and cataract (pre and post). Although PECC’s bid for the community ophthalmology service was unsuccessful Lyn urged optometrists within Western Cheshire to continue to support the LOC and should anyone be approached by a private company or its representatives to continue to refer them to Rupesh. It was disappointing that a report had not been issued as a result of the NHS England ‘Call to Action for improving Eye Health and Reducing sight loss’. Warrington will no longer be joining Cheshire Loc as a result of restructure of the area teams. The Local Eye Health Network continues to influence the CCGs and engages with the LOC; the Chair David Knowles attends our meetings and the recently published LEH Needs Assessment recommends the commissioning of further enhanced services with community optometrists, especially Minor Eye Condition Services (MECS). Lyn thanked Helen for organising the CET events this year, Rupesh for his role as PECC Chair and for the managing of the LOC website, which has since been passed over to Mark Simpson. He went on to thank Cathy in her role as secretary. With the election of a new committee Lyn advised that new and re-elected members should be prepared for a greater level of involvement to support the officers in both the LOC and PECC. He finished by saying he was standing down as Chair and from the LOC after 32 years. He thanked all current and past committee members for their support over the years.

5. Secretary’s Report: Cathy reported that there had been 5 meetings this year with good attendance at all meetings. Gordon Elliot, David Knowles, Dharmesh Patel (LOCSU Optical Lead) Richard Shaw, Debbie Blaney and Ian White from Warrington all had attended one or more meetings, with Jill Umpleby resigning last July. The majority of her work had been involved in keeping practices up to date with LOC/PECC matters, enhanced services and QIO. She explained why some practitioners might receive duplicate emails; this was due to having two separate email lists, for Contractors and Performers and sometimes duplicates arise when an issue applies to both and the email provided for both is for the same person. The election process has raised a few issues which have been dealt with. As this has been the first election for the LOC, next time it will be more straight forward, having learnt from our mistakes. Cathy went on to explain the situation with South Cheshire and Vale Royal CCGs and enhanced services. An increase in fees for the GRR is in the process of being agreed with the hope that a new service will eventually be commissioned. Fees will be backdated to April 1st 2015. She confirmed that payment for the current services would be made shortly with a one off up to date payment to the end of March.

6. Vice- Chair’s report- Nothing to report.

7. Treasurer’s report: Paul provided copies of the unaudited accounts. The levy for the year was £67,443 with £15 interest. AGM costs and member expenses and LOCSU levy totalled £52,331. There was no breakdown of the actual expenses available. There was a net profit of £14,781. There had been an increase in expenses and training and increased income from Warrington.

Paul proposed a budget, with the levy remaining at 1.5% and recommended the mandate to vary the levy by no more than 0.5% is carried forward for the next year. There were a few questions about a breakdown of the accounts, AGM costs and committee members costs. It was agreed that in future the accounts should show a breakdown of the costs to the LOC. The budget proposal and approval of the 2014 accounts was accepted Proposer: Keith Cooper Seconder: Jane Smellie and the accounts were accepted as a true and accurate record. All in favour. Primary Eyecare Cheshire Ltd has been loaned £4500 from the LOC for initial set up which is expected to be paid back within 3 years, in 2016. Finally the appointment of auditors for the forthcoming year- all in favour for continuing with unaudited accounts, by Tax Assist accountants, Queensferry.

Lyn thanked Paul Redhead, who was stepping down as Treasurer and from the LOC . He also thanked Keith Cooper who was also stepping down from the LOC and as Treasurer of PECC. Nigel followed this by thanking Lyn for his time as Chair and for his support to the LOC over the past 32 years and Cathy presented him with a gift from the LOC and its members.

8. Appointment of the returning officer- Lyn handed over to David Knowles

9. Election of the new committee- David announced the new committee would comprise of Contractors- Cathryn Tripp, Nigel Oldbury, Helen Denton, Jane Smellie, Chris Houghton, Hugh Churchman and Performers- Lyndon Taylor, Rupesh Bagdai, Amy Thompson, Mark Simpson, Fionnuala Stott and Theresa Cox.

10. – Election of officers-As there were only one nominations for each position David declared the officers as Lyndon Taylor as Chair, Cathryn Tripp as Secretary and Nigel Oldbury as Treasurer. 11. Elected Chair’s address- Lyndon thanked Lyn for his time as Chair and wished him well as he retires from the LOC. Bob Quinn who retired from the LOC some 30 years ago had passed away recently and Lyndon had attended the funeral representing the LOC and AOP.

12. AOB- DRSP- Lyndon confirmed that practices will keep the photography service as part of the Diabetic retinal screening service but a reduced fee may be offered in the future. The current contract is for 12 months. Pre-school eye exam project- Amy Thompson is currently studying for a Masters and her dissertation is on ‘Prescription guidelines for pre-school children’. The dissertation is based around analysing the results of anonymous questionnaire responses from optometrists regarding prescribing habits when testing pre-school children. Amy asked those present for their help in filling out the questionnaires which will be emailed out in the next couple of weeks. Amy will present the results once the dissertation is complete.

FUTURE CET EVENTS- Helen Denton said she had taken on board comments made on the feedback forms that the last CET event wasn’t suitable for Dos but explained that it wasn’t always possible to have CET suitable for Optoms and Dos. She mentioned it was becoming increasingly difficult to obtain sponsorship from companies. Future topics will be a Peer review evening in June with accreditation being applied for Optoms and Dos. Website update- Rupesh explained how the website had moved over onto a new platform with more options and enabled the LOC to offer more information in an improved layout. He has had support from Mark Simpson over the past few months and as a result has handed over to Mark the management of the Website. David Knowles – LEHN Chair-at last week’s LEHN assembly David Geddes said we would not be receiving a report from the ‘Call to Action’ as it has now been succeeded by NHS England’s Chief Exec, Simon Stevens 5 year forward view.

The meeting closed at 8.20 pm