HTML Preview Board Annual Agenda page number 1.
From Good Governance #11, September - October 1999
BoardWorks International (Australia) Pty Ltd 1
Developing an Annual Agenda
In an earlier article on board agendas, Revisiting the Agenda, GG # 5 September –
October 1998, we offered some thoughts on structuring the agenda. We also
recommended that the board should develop an annual or 12 month agenda,
designing the basic framework for the year‟s meetings. This article picks up on that
theme, outlining examples of an agenda for three consecutive meetings followed by
an explanation of why certain items are on the agenda together with some
recommendations for dealing with them.
Firstly, some basic principles.
• It is the board‟s agenda therefore the board should be in charge of what goes on
it.
• Secondly, the job of the board is to develop and monitor policy, so it follows that
the board meeting should be focussed on policy matters.
• Third, as part of its duty of care responsibilities, the board should ensure that its
polices are being implemented as designed. The CEO is thus required to report to
the board on a regular basis on the carrying out of these policies.
• Finally, the board meeting is an ideal forum for extended in-depth discussions
about critical strategic issues, discussion which will include the full board, the CEO
and, where relevant, other staff or outside experts.
The sample agendas that follow reflect these principles and provide the structure
for the board meeting. Each of the agenda items is discussed in relation to the note
number on the right hand end of the item, e.g. Note # 1 etc.
Readers will note that the agenda are very similar meeting by meeting.
Three sample agendas follow.
Sample Agenda #1
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING AGENDA - JULY 24
TH
1999
Agenda Item Suggested Notes (see
time frame below)
Preliminary administration matters 5 mins Note # 1
Apologies
Confirmation of minutes
Declaration of interests
Financial report – CEO to report 5 - 15 mins Note # 2
Presentation of financial accounts and analysis
as determined by the board