Decision log template for boards
A ready-to-use decision log template for the board: each decision with its date and where it’s recorded, and for decisions that need follow-up, what is to be done, by whom and by when.
Want to know what goes in a decision log, how it differs from the minutes and how to keep it current? Read the guide to the decision log.
Add meeting decisions from the draft minutes straight after the meeting, and decisions taken between meetings from their written record. Check meeting decisions against the approved minutes, and other decisions against their final written record. If a decision needs follow-up, even an approval such as a contract to sign, use the first table with what is to be done, by whom and by when. Decisions with nothing left to do go into the second table. Before each meeting, collect the status from the owners and put the log in the board pack under matters arising.
In Hippoly the follow-up lives as actions, with an owner and a due date if you want them. Hippoly reminds the owner when an action is assigned, on the due date and when it’s overdue, and the whole board sees what’s open and what’s done in one list.
Important: the log supplements the minutes, and any written record of decisions taken between meetings. It doesn’t replace them. Under the UK Companies Act 2006, for example, a company must record minutes of its board meetings and keep them for at least ten years. The template is general guidance, not legal advice.
Board decision log
[Organisation name]
Kept by: [name]
Last updated: [date, e.g. 22 April 2027]
[Each row is one decision. Add meeting decisions from the draft minutes and decisions taken between meetings from their written record. Check meeting decisions against the approved minutes and other decisions against their final written record. Owner, due date and status belong to the follow-up, not to the decision itself.]
Decisions with follow-up open
| Decision | Decided (date, record) | Follow-up and owner | Due date | Follow-up status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [the decision in full] | [date, meeting and item] | [what is to be done, by whom] | [date] | [open / in progress] |
| [the decision in full] | [date, meeting and item] | [what is to be done, by whom] | [date] | [open / in progress] |
| [the decision in full] | [date, written resolution] | [what is to be done, by whom] | [date] | [open / in progress] |
Decisions with no follow-up open
| Decision | Decided (date, record) | Since | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| [the decision in full] | [date, meeting and item] | [date] | [e.g. follow-up done / approval, no follow-up needed] |
| [the decision in full] | [date, meeting and item] | [date] | [e.g. replaced by the decision of [date]] |
Status key
Open: decided, follow-up not yet started.
In progress: follow-up under way.
When the follow-up is done, or none was needed, move the decision to the second table. The decision itself stays in force until the board changes it.
[If a decision is changed or replaced by a later one, note it in the second table, and add the new decision as a row of its own.]