This bill will provide greater transparency of interests of members of local authorities, improve public trust and confidence, and contribute to robust decision-making by local authorities. Currently, the information collected and published on members' interests for the purpose of managing conflicts of interest is inconsistent across local authorities. While some authorities have registers which collect information required by this bill and make them available to members of the public, the vast majority of local authorities do not. When councils are making decisions about funding opportunities for community groups, often it is very, very unclear as to what the nature of the relationship is with someone who is sitting around the decision-making table and the group that's seeking funding. 