LOCSU and LOC Levy Rate
19 April 2024
Dear Berkshire contractors and performers,
I am writing to inform you of the decision made by the LOC to increase the levy rate from the current 0.5% to 0.8%. This decision follows careful consideration of our financial situation and the evolving needs of our committee.
The decision to increase the levy rate is based on several key factors.
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- The committee has experienced a significant depletion of its financial reserves over the last financial year. This decline has raised concerns about our ability to sustain our level of activity as a committee.
- The fee to be a member of LOCSU is 0.5%, so as all funding currently covers this, Berkshire LOC has received no funding since July 2016.
- Since the AGM in 2023, we have had a notable expansion in the size of our committee. With a larger committee comes increased expenses in training and meeting attendance.
- It has become evident that additional financial resources are necessary to support our work and membership adequately.
- There has been a marked increase in the volume of activities and meetings related to EeRS and potential future local commissioning of enhanced optical services. These engagements demand additional resources in terms of committee time.
Given these factors, the LOC has determined that an adjustment to the levy rate is necessary to ensure the financial sustainability of our committee and to continue providing high-quality support to our members and the wider optical community in Berkshire.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or feedback.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we implement this necessary adjustment to the levy rate.
By doing so, we will strengthen the financial foundation of our Local Optical Committee and ensure that we can continue fulfilling our mission effectively.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Berkshire LOC
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