Actions register template
An action register is an essential tool for boards, ensuring accountability, transparency, and follow-through on key decisions. By maintaining an action register, boards can track tasks, designate responsibilities, and set clear deadlines, helping to ensure that important matters do not fall through the cracks. This process enhances board governance by keeping a focus on outcomes, maintaining clarity, and providing a system for revisiting pending or incomplete tasks from previous meetings. A well-maintained action register supports the board’s overall effectiveness and transparency, which are critical for gaining stakeholder trust and improving organisational performance.
Minutes Overview
Ensure that board minutes capture essential details like date, attendees, apologies, decisions made, actions required, and responsibilities.
Linking to the Action Register
After the meeting, extract any actions from the minutes and list them in a separate action register. This document should clearly indicate:
- Action Items: Specific tasks that need to be completed.
- Responsible Parties: Individuals or teams accountable for each action.
- Due Dates: Deadlines for each action to be completed.
- Status: Regular updates on whether an item is pending, in progress, or completed.
- Matters arising: topics or action items from previous meeting minutes that require follow-up or further discussion in a subsequent meeting
Structure of Action Register
- Meeting Date should be included
- Action Number: Assign unique identifiers to each action for easy tracking.
- Action Description: Summarise the task in simple terms.
- Link to the Minute Item: Refer to the specific section or resolution number in the minutes.
- Assigned to: Name the person or department responsible for implementing the action.
- Target Date: Provide a clear deadline.
- Completion Date: Track when the action is completed.
- Status Updates: Include periodic reviews of progress in subsequent meetings