ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2016

Transcription

1 DATE: Friday 4 March 2016 TIME: 13:00 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2016 VENUE: University of London, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AL Trustees present: Keith Barton, Chair Stephen Epstein Julian Exeter Yolanda Laybourne Jacqueline Mitton Sheila Page Mary Shaw Steve Smith Matthew Tye Alan Vaughan IGA Staff Present: Richenda Kew (RK), Executive PA, Minutes Russell Young (RY), Chief Executive 1. Welcome by the Chairman The Chairman, Keith Barton, opened the meeting and thanked everyone for attending. 2. Apologies Apologies were received from Philip Bloom, Val Goss, Ben Quartey and Nicholas Strouthidis. 3. Approval of Standing Orders The Chairman explained the Standing Orders to everyone and gained approval for the meeting. 4. Approval of Minutes of the AGM held on 13 March 2015 There were no amendments to the previous Minutes and subsequently they were approved unanimously. Page 1

2 5. Matters arising from previous minutes not on the agenda There were no matters to note. 6. Chairman s Report IGA Volunteers There are currently 2 groups of volunteers with 9 active volunteers. Their work includes: fielding calls from predominantly community pharmacies, community opticians and GP surgeries placing patient information literature presenting to interested groups DVLA The IGA and DVLA have a system to highlight concerns regarding testing, location, and length of time to hear a response. The IGA is hoping to work with the DVLA on a leaflet about visual field and how they differ to those in hospitals. The IGA is pursuing the idea of providing a copy of the visual field test being given to applicants. IGA members are helping test a new DVLA computer service which will allow for online reapplication of a driving licence. Royal Pharmaceutical Society A Medicines Utilisation Leaflet on the use of eye drops is to be sent to every pharmacist in the UK. The CEO has been working on a distance learning programme module on glaucoma and the use of eye drops, with the Post Graduate Pharmacy Education unit in Manchester. There have been an increasing number of requests to participate in education programs by pharmacists, nurses and optometrists organisations. World Glaucoma Week (6-12 March 2016) This week is organised by World Glaucoma Group and World Glaucoma Patient Association. The IGA supports it in a small way, but keeps most of its energies for its own National Glaucoma Awareness Week in June. For this year s World Glaucoma Week, the IGA will be working with both Vision Express and Specsavers to raise awareness of the importance of eye health checks. Vision Express will be offering free eye health checks on their Vision Express Van in various locations around England, including, Reading, Leeds, Truro, Bristol. Page 2

3 The IGA has helped to support this through regional press and a short film which will be shared through social media. National Glaucoma Awareness Week (6-12 June 2016) Family Foresight The focus is on close relatives and the need for regular eye health checks. Packs of information will be sent to 600 hospitals and 400 optometrists. Specsavers will be fundraising for the IGA during the week, and will be donating 1.00 for every tonometer test that is carried out during World Glaucoma Week. They are promoting this through regional press and social media. Specsavers are keen to work on fundraising and awareness initiatives for the week. SpecsNetwork (umbrella group of 400 optometric practices) will be raising the profile of glaucoma from April to June, and of driving and glaucoma later in the year. Vision Express will be promoting the week through social media. 7. Finance Report The Honorary Treasurer referred the accounts for and explained that copies of the Annual Report and Financial Statements were available upon request. In the financial year to 31 st July, income increased from 897,347 to 1,012,764 or by 115,417. This increase was due to an increase in legacies, which rose by 133, 615 to 662,187. There was a slight fall in donations and subscription income from 227,637 to 220,757. Investment income also fell from 111,947 to 102,596. This was attributable, in part, to realising part of the investment portfolio to increase cash holdings. In managing cash flow, IGA faced the problem that its main source of income, from legacies, was uncertain in both amount and timing. Legacies were only treated as income when the IGA was reasonably sure that a certain amount would be received. Even then there could be a delay before the cash was actually received. The IGA, therefore, thought it prudent to have a conservative cash management policy. Costs were reduced by 1,126,730 to 996,084. This was more than accounted for by a reduction in expenditure in research of 158,555. That was not because the IGA was less committed to research, but was partly attributable to the writing back of a research grant awarded in previous years which was not taken up. The Grants sub-committee was keen to use the budget that they had but do so only if they were satisfied that the required standard was met. As at the end Page 3

4 of last year, the IGA had outstanding commitments to pay over 300,000 in research grants. Excluding expenditure on research, costs increased from 778,101 to 801,355 or by just under 3%. There was a net increase in funds of 34,733 compared to a net outgoing of 231,523 in That was after realised gains on investments of 32,501 and unrealised losses of 14,448. Total funds for the IGA on its own therefore increased to 2,210,583, of which 1,877,151 were general funds. On a consolidated basis, that included The Fund for the IGA Chair of Ophthalmology for Glaucoma and Associated Studies, total funds had increased to 3,380,549. The IGA Reserves policy stated that the IGA needed to hold reserves equivalent to one year s operating costs plus an amount agreed by the Council of Trustees to fund known research and other commitments and for contingencies. That was agreed at a figure of 1,016,000, which was below the amount held in general reserves. The IGA ended the year in a sound financial position. Challenges remained, particularly in diversifying sources of income in an increasingly challenging fundraising environment and in holding down costs in an era when increased regulation of charities could be expected, so the IGA could continue to provide the support and services to its members, patients and to fund research. 8. Resolution 1 : To adopt the Audited Accounts for the period 1 August 2014 to 31 July 2015 The Chairman informed the meeting that he had received 84 proxy votes from those unable to attend the AGM. Proposed by Sheila Page and seconded by Jacqueline Mitton. Votes in favour: 19 Votes received by proxy: for 66 Resolution 1 was carried. 9. Resolution 2 : To re-appoint Calcutt Matthews of Ashford, Kent as Auditors to the Association for the period 1 August 2016 to 31 July 2017 Proposed by Matthew Tye and seconded by Yolanda Laybourne. Votes in favour: 20 Page 4

5 Votes received by proxy: for 66 Resolution 2 was carried. 10. Resolution 3 : To continue to promote NICE and SIGN Glaucoma Guidelines & Quality Standards Proposed by Mary E Shaw and seconded by Sheila Page. Votes in favour: 20 Votes received by proxy: for 67 Resolution 3 was carried. 11. Resolution 4 : Election of Trustees The following nominees were elected as Trustees for a 3-year term: Julian Exeter Scott Mackie Sheila Page Mary Shaw Ray Spendiff Nicholas Strouthidis The Chairman asked for approval from the meeting to destroy all the proxy votes received. This was unanimously approved. 12. Fundraising/Awareness Presentations The Chief Executive presented the following awards: Most Successful Fundraiser Mark Doherty, Consultant Ophthalmologist (Glaucoma Specialist) Most Innovative Ophthalmic Unit Mr Craig Burnett and the Ophthalmic unit at Hull & East Yorkshire Eye Hospital The Chairman closed the meeting. Page 5