News from Council – 11 March 2026
The General Optical Council (GOC) held its first Council meeting of the year yesterday. Agenda items included approving a discussion paper on the GOC’s approach to setting registrant fees for public consultation and discussing the Professional Standards Authority’s (PSA) 2024–25 performance review of the GOC.
Registrant fees discussion paper
Council approved a discussion paper for public consultation on the GOC’s approach to setting registrant fees.
The discussion paper aims to start a conversation with registrants about possible changes to how annual registration renewal fees are set. It seeks views on whether fees paid by different groups of registrants should vary depending on the costs of regulating them and other factors, and explores options to help registrants spread the cost of registration and improve transparency around fees.
Key areas being explored include:
- differential fees, such as:
- lower fees for dispensing opticians
- higher fees for registrants with specialist qualifications
- lower fees for newly qualified registrants
- lower fees for those on maternity or similar leave
- a more generous low-income discount scheme
- payment flexibility, including the option to pay fees by instalments
- modifying business registrant fees, including different fees depending on business size
- providing clarity for registrants including consulting on costed plans and fees and determining the fees for the next two years (or more) in advance.
The paper focuses on the structure of fees rather than the overall level of the registration fee. It forms part of the GOC’s 2025–30 corporate strategy commitment to enhance fairness and deliver value for money in how registrant fees are set.
During discussion, some Council members raised questions about the potential administrative impact of introducing differential fees and the extent to which certain groups of registrants generate higher regulatory costs. However, it was acknowledged that this was simply the start of a discussion, and Council welcomed the opportunity for wider debate and engagement with registrants.
The discussion paper will go live on the GOC’s consultation hub to seek views from registrants for 12 weeks starting in April 2026.
GOC’s PSA performance review for 2024-25
Council discussed the GOC’s 2024-25 performance review, published last week by the PSA, showing that the GOC met all 18 of the PSA’s Standards of Good Regulation.
The PSA highlighted strengths including the GOC’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI); public research carried out to inform its business regulation consultation; support for education providers through the Sector Partnership for Optical Knowledge and Education Knowledge Hub; evaluation and success of its Continuing Professional Development scheme; and fitness to practise investigation timelines remaining among the strongest across health and social care regulators.
Council members congratulated the GOC for meeting all Standards for the fourth consecutive year, while acknowledging the GOC shouldn’t be complacent as the PSA identified areas where improvements could be made in education quality assurance and fitness to practise. Council members noted the GOC’s responsive approach to these findings and will continue to monitor progress in these areas.
Business Plan and Budget 2026-27
Council approved the GOC's 2026–27 Business Plan, which sets out how it will deliver the second year of its 2025–30 strategy, as well as its 2026-27 Budget.
Council welcomed the ambitious plan, which includes reviewing the approach to setting registrant fees (see above item), developing new registration processes to support applications for registration from professionals qualified overseas, and producing guidance for registrants on the use of AI.
It was noted that the 2026–27 Budget shows a deficit. However, this is fully planned and aligns with the GOC’s 2025–30 financial strategy, which anticipates operating deficits in years two and four, offset by surpluses in years three and five.
The Plan and Budget will be published shortly on the GOC website.
Council also approved three strategic projects for 2026-27 including a Council board effectiveness review to assess governance arrangements and support effective leadership; an EDI training programme for staff (see below under the ‘EDI Action Plan 2026-27' item); and scoping for a new finance, HR and payroll system to improve organisational efficiency.
EDI Action Plan 2026-27
Council approved the EDI Action Plan for 2026-27, which sets out how the GOC will deliver the second year of its 2025–30 EDI Strategy.
The plan aims to build on the EDI work done during 2025-26, ensuring EDI is embedded across the GOC and informs decision-making, regulatory practice and organisational culture.
A key focus of the plan is a strengthened EDI learning and training programme for GOC staff, aimed at building greater confidence and capability in addressing equality and fairness in regulatory decision-making. The programme will include cultural safety training and specialist expertise on issues such as antisemitism, cultural sensitivity, Islamophobia and structural discrimination. This coincides with the anticipated publication of the Lord Mann review into how healthcare regulators tackle antisemitism and other forms of racism, and the PSA’s continuing emphasis on evidencing fair outcomes.
The Plan will be published shortly on the GOC website.
Member fees 2026-27
Council approved member fees - paid to members of GOC Committees and Panels - for 2026–27. Following a recommendation from its Remuneration Committee, there will be no general increase to member fees for the coming financial year.
The decision follows a benchmarking activity which showed that current fee levels remain in line with other UK health regulators.
The 2026-27 member fee schedule will be published shortly on the GOC website.
Appointment of members to committees
Council approved several appointments to its committees.
John Cappock has been appointed as Chair of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee until 31 March 2030, subject to a review after two years. Mr Cappock brings extensive financial and governance experience and has served in senior roles in higher education and the NHS.
The Council also approved several committee appointments for Council members. Kalwant Grewal will join the Companies Committee from 11 March 2026, and Poonam Sharma will serve as its Chair from 1 June 2026. Cathy Yelf will become Chair of the Investment Committee from 11 November 2026.
Tim Parkinson will step down as Chair of the Companies Committee on 31 May 2026 and as Chair of the Investment Committee on 10 November 2026.
