THE new Redland City Council has handled its first tricky issue at its first meeting.
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It was a planning issue regarding an application for so-called "rooming accommodation'' at a house in Capalaba.
Under the proposal, a suburban house was to have tenants for its four bedrooms enter into individual lease agreements.
Council rejected the proposal against the advice of council officers. The proponent may challenge this decision and it may end up in court.
Regardless of which way this decision went, this was democracy and a local government working the way it should.
The issue was debated in open council, councillors argued back and forth and a vote was taken.
These are relatively small things but exactly what you want to see.
From mayor Karen Williams down, all councillors deserve some credit for the way the issue was thrashed out because such planning decisions can have major ramifications.
The thing is, much has been made of the disunity that wracked the previous council and Williams has stated how she now seeks a united council.
Although this project might be small in relation to major development issues to come like Toondah Harbour, Weinam Creek and the Cleveland Railway Station, it is an important first step in proper process.
It emphasises how important it is for residents to have councillors act in a collaborative way to take the city forward in terms of development, protection of the environment and public amenity.
Governments that fight internally, with power blocs and personality clashes do not function well.
Perhaps the most striking example of the need for good councils was when former conservative British prime minister Margaret Thatcher took an ideological sledge hammer to local government in the mid-1980s and disbanded the Greater London Council.
It was not until the council was gone that it was realised just how important it was and it was restored.
So we can only hope that Redland councillors keep to this constructive course. In debates, there will be councillors who win and councillors who lose but that is the essence of a democracy.
If this council can keep on this path, the Redlands will be the better for it.
