Prudent GOC reports £379,000 annual surplus

A business rate rebate from Westminster City Council helped the General Optical Council report a £379,000 surplus for 2013/14, a quarterly meeting heard last week.

The one-off receipt of £282,000 was added to efficiency savings in insurance, media monitoring, transcribing hearings and travel booking.

During the meeting Council also approved a proposed approach to requests from registrants who wish to change their gender identity on the register.

GOC chair Gareth Hadley, himself a former human resources director, said: ‘It is something you need to have a clear position on and be compliant. I don’t think I have ever been in a job where issues of this nature have not occurred.’