There is now some debate about whether NI 4 is best used as a diagnostic measure or measure of performance. Regardless of what the future holds for NI 4, citizen engagement with local decision-making is high on the public policy agenda, and there is every indication that it will continue to be so. Understanding how citizens feel about decision-making is critical to developing work to strengthen democracy. Building on existing knowledge in this area, this report provides a more detailed understanding of perceptions of influence, and chimes with many of the core questions and debates among practitioners and policy makers.