Ideally, you will have distributed the minutes from the previous meeting in advance, and this should just be a formality.Īlthough you may not be required to allow public participation, it is often desirable to do it in order to engage your voters with the work of the council. The chair should begin the meeting at a certain time, in accordance with the call to order in the agenda. This signifies when the meeting will start in earnest. It guides you through the required elements, into the meeting-specific topics that you will debate and discuss, and through the appropriate way to close the meeting.

The order of business is the roadmap of the meeting. This basic information is important to include so that everyone understands where they need to be, when they need to be there and why they need to attend. Elementĭate, time, location, and type of meeting The following are the parts of the meeting agenda that should be present to ensure a well-structured meeting that meets its objectives. The elements of a municipal meeting agenda With an effective agenda, you can arm your councillors with the tools they need to govern well. The agenda is a key element of both the meeting preparation and the meeting itself.

helps you focus on the objectives of the meeting.

informs meeting members on the relevant topics to research ahead of the meeting, helping them prepare fully.

plots timings to help your chair dedicate the required time to each item.

allows for prioritisation of the most pressing issues at hand.

It ensures you maintain forward momentum throughout and helps you to cover all of the important topics within the allotted time. Did you know iBabs offers a Meeting Management Solution optimised for councils and local government? The importance of a well-organised meeting agendaĪ well-organised meeting agenda helps you to hold more efficient meetings that make the decisions that best serve your citizens.

Formal agenda template for a meeting