Minutes, and what they settle

Write the minutes against each item, and record who was there and who sent apologies. Some items offer one box that settles what the item was about, dated to the meeting, not to the day you type it up:

• a duty: record it as done at this meeting;
• the risks to discuss: mark them reviewed (and the risks duty done);
• an AGM step: tick it as done;
• the last meeting's minutes: approve them.

Approved minutes are locked. Once the next meeting approves them, nothing in that meeting can be changed, added or deleted, because it's the record the board signed off. Print the minutes for signing; once approved, the printout says so.