According to Law Commissioner John Burrows the Official Information Act and LGOIMA are "one of the best things that has happened in government in the past 50 years" because they have provided a level of openness that has enabled many people to become more involved in their Government.

Council Watch uses the LGOIMA to undertake research and break down some of the mysteries behind the way local government operates - mysteries that apply not only to citizens but to the sector itself.  The Act provides a crucial tool for the public to examine decisions and actions undertaken by council officers.

The Law Commission launched a review of the two Acts earlier this year and the Draco Foundation - the parent organisation of Council Watch - provided a 12-page submission based on the experience of the past three years.

After trawling through the hundreds of pages of documentation it has become obvious the review is in good hands, with significant research by the Commission turning up a number of key points for debate.

The Law Commission review paper can be found here, and the Draco Foundation submission is here.