As I continue from Part I, I address my mind to other Agenda items that can be considered “standard” as follows:

7. Consideration of Minutes of previous meeting

This item seeks to confirm the record of proceedings of the previous meeting. I think that it is important to recognise that minutes of a meeting is an accountable document. Colleagues in the audit fraternity will attest to the fact that they require confirmed minutes of the meetings of governing bodies as they review the financial statements of the organization to be able to formulate their opinion on the said review. Further, being mindful that a corporate has perpetual succession, at any given time, the connection between the past and present must be achievable notwithstanding any changes in Management or the governing body. It is therefore imperative that minutes of meetings are confirmed in that regard.

8. Matters arising from previous minutes

This item is the opportunity for the governing body to receive an action taken report from Management on decisions and directives given by the governing body at the previous meeting. The importance of this item is that the governing body would be exercising its supervisory function over Management and provide guidance accordingly.

9. Any other business

This item has been the subject of interesting discourse, in my view.
My opinion is this is an opportunity for members to raise issues that are relevant but not necessarily regular to the Agenda.
There is a school of thought that sometimes it is used to discuss matters that should have ordinarily been substantive items with a formal submission and if practiced in that way, there is a probability that other members may not have an opportunity to properly address their minds to the issue and they could argue that they had been caught “off guard”.
Another school of thought is that this item should be structured. It should be preceded by a process whereby a member who wishes to discuss a matter as other business would submit his or her intention to the Secretariat with a brief on the said business for members to consider at the point of adoption of the Agenda. This way, members would have the lead time required for them to effectively contribute to the submission. I would be grateful to hear other perspectives on this one!

Thank you.