An increase in registration fees of 5.56% to £380 for optometrists, dispensing opticians and body corporates was approved at the General Optical Council’s latest council meeting on December 7.
The GOC agreed on a below-inflation increase in the main registration fee for 2023-2024 and noted that fees were frozen for the last three years at £360. For 2023-2024, fees for students remained the same and the discount for low-income fees increased by £20 to keep the fee at £260.
A GOC statement said: ‘This increase in fees will ensure the GOC can continue to fulfil its statutory remit and protect the public by upholding high standards in the optical professions, while sensibly managing risks in a climate of increasingly financial and economic volatility.’
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) annual report was discussed during the meeting, which highlighted GOC activity such as the creation of an EDI action plan.
The GOC has also made changes to the collection of registrant and complainant data to provide a clearer picture of the demographic of registrants who go through the fitness to practise system.
It was the final council meeting for Glenn Tomison and Rosie Glazebrook and recruitment for two new council members was underway.
Dr Anne Wright, chair of council, said Tomison and Glazebrook made huge contributions to the work of the council and its committees over the last eight years. ‘On behalf of my fellow council members, I place on record our warmest thanks and appreciation, as well as good wishes for the future,’ she said.