Local democracy is so important, and all members in this House will attest to that within their own local communities. Decisions around council tables can vary, whether it's about lease arrangements for local facilities, whether it's about the particular zoning, sale, or disposal of land, or whether it's about what is a suitable rates rise when councils strike their rates on an annual basis. Local communities expect and deserve to know that all of those decisions and the many other decisions that local councils make are fair and transparent, because transparency is also important. 