What is the purpose of a Consent Agenda in meetings?

The purpose of a Consent Agenda in meetings is to maximize board and committee effectiveness. A Consent Agenda allows a group to streamline the meeting process by grouping together routine items or non-controversial matters that can be approved all at once, without the need for extensive discussion. This enables the board or committee to focus their time and energy on more significant agenda items that require deeper deliberation. By utilizing a Consent Agenda, organizations can enhance efficiency, save time, and make more productive use of their meeting hours, ensuring that essential issues receive the attention they deserve.

The other options suggest outcomes that do not align with the primary purpose of a Consent Agenda. For instance, encouraging lengthy discussions contradicts the very function of a Consent Agenda, which is to minimize unnecessary debate over straightforward items. Eliminating all non-controversial items wouldn't make sense because it is precisely these items that are included in a Consent Agenda for efficient handling. Adding more items to the meeting agenda also goes against the purpose, as a Consent Agenda is meant to consolidate and streamline rather than expand discussion points.