Tip #2 Consider Using a Consent Agenda

November 1, 2015  |  tips for effective boards

The primary reason for using a consent agenda is to free up the board’s time to deal with more important or strategic issues.  A consent agenda is a section of the board meeting agenda that typically includes straightforward non-controversial or routine items grouped together and acted upon by the board with a single vote.  Items are brought together into a package with the understanding that these items do not need any discussion.  However, if any board member has a question or concern about an item in the consent agenda, it can be removed from the consent agenda for discussion and separate action.  Board members need to be familiar with each item included in the consent agenda upon which they will vote.  This can be accomplished through distribution of information about consent agenda items (together with information about other agenda items as well) prior to the board meeting.  Board meeting time is a valued commodity that needs to be carefully conserved.  Consent agendas well-managed can be an important efficiency tool which helps provide boards with the time for future-focused creative board dialogue positioning their organizations for continued viability, relevance, and success.

The Policy Governance® model uses a particular type of consent agenda which it calls a required approvals agenda.  This section of the board meeting agenda includes items that have been delegated to the CEO but require a specific board approval because of an external authority such as a law, regulation, accreditation standard, funding source, etc.  An example of a required approvals agenda item may be that a governmental board delegates to its CEO authority to make hiring decisions but a state regulation requires board approval of all such decisions.