diff --git a/packaging/tests/tas-restapi/src/test/java/org/alfresco/rest/groups/GroupsTests.java b/packaging/tests/tas-restapi/src/test/java/org/alfresco/rest/groups/GroupsTests.java
index e40f5a3cd8..75cecb45ff 100644
--- a/packaging/tests/tas-restapi/src/test/java/org/alfresco/rest/groups/GroupsTests.java
+++ b/packaging/tests/tas-restapi/src/test/java/org/alfresco/rest/groups/GroupsTests.java
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ public class GroupsTests extends RestTest
         restClient.authenticateUser(userModel).withCoreAPI().usingGroups().createGroup(groupBodyCreate);
         restClient.assertStatusCodeIs(HttpStatus.FORBIDDEN);
         //+ve
-        restClient.authenticateUser(adminUser).withCoreAPI().usingParams("include=zones").usingGroups().createGroup(groupBodyCreate)
+        restClient.authenticateUser(adminUser).withCoreAPI().usingParams("include=zones,hasSubgroups,description").usingGroups().createGroup(groupBodyCreate)
                                               .assertThat().field("zones").contains("APP.DEFAULT")
                                               .and().field("isRoot").is(true)
                                               .and().field("displayName").is(groupName)
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public class GroupsTests extends RestTest
         restClient.assertStatusCodeIs(HttpStatus.OK);
 
         //GetGroupDetails:
-        restClient.withCoreAPI().usingParams("include=zones").usingGroups().getGroupDetail("GROUP_"+groupName)
+        restClient.withCoreAPI().usingParams("include=zones,hasSubgroups,description").usingGroups().getGroupDetail("GROUP_"+groupName)
                   .assertThat().field("id").is("GROUP_"+groupName)
                   .and().field("zones").contains("APP.DEFAULT")
                   .and().field("isRoot").is(true)
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ public class GroupsTests extends RestTest
         restClient.assertStatusCodeIs(HttpStatus.NO_CONTENT);
 
         //VerifyIfParentHasNoSubgroups:
-        restClient.withCoreAPI().usingParams("include=zones").usingGroups().getGroupDetail("GROUP_"+groupName)
+        restClient.withCoreAPI().usingParams("include=zones,hasSubgroups").usingGroups().getGroupDetail("GROUP_"+groupName)
                 .assertThat().field("id").is("GROUP_"+groupName)
                 .and().field("hasSubgroups").is(false);
         restClient.assertStatusCodeIs(HttpStatus.OK);
diff --git a/remote-api/src/main/java/org/alfresco/rest/api/Groups.java b/remote-api/src/main/java/org/alfresco/rest/api/Groups.java
index 53eb220387..58b6d13aa8 100644
--- a/remote-api/src/main/java/org/alfresco/rest/api/Groups.java
+++ b/remote-api/src/main/java/org/alfresco/rest/api/Groups.java
@@ -40,8 +40,10 @@ public interface Groups
 {
     String PARAM_ID = "id";
     String PARAM_DISPLAY_NAME = "displayName";
+    String PARAM_INCLUDE_DESCRIPTION = "description";
     String PARAM_INCLUDE_PARENT_IDS = "parentIds";
     String PARAM_INCLUDE_ZONES = "zones";
+    String PARAM_INCLUDE_HAS_SUBGROUPS = "hasSubgroups";
     String PARAM_IS_ROOT = "isRoot";
     String PARAM_CASCADE = "cascade";
     String PARAM_MEMBER_TYPE = "memberType";
diff --git a/remote-api/src/main/java/org/alfresco/rest/api/impl/GroupsImpl.java b/remote-api/src/main/java/org/alfresco/rest/api/impl/GroupsImpl.java
index 92c1cf1818..464d4ff525 100644
--- a/remote-api/src/main/java/org/alfresco/rest/api/impl/GroupsImpl.java
+++ b/remote-api/src/main/java/org/alfresco/rest/api/impl/GroupsImpl.java
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ import org.alfresco.repo.security.authority.AuthorityInfo;
 import org.alfresco.repo.security.authority.UnknownAuthorityException;
 import org.alfresco.rest.antlr.WhereClauseParser;
 import org.alfresco.rest.api.Groups;
-import org.alfresco.rest.api.Nodes;
 import org.alfresco.rest.api.People;
 import org.alfresco.rest.api.model.Group;
 import org.alfresco.rest.api.model.GroupMember;
@@ -71,9 +70,6 @@ import org.alfresco.rest.framework.resource.parameters.where.Query;
 import org.alfresco.rest.framework.resource.parameters.where.QueryHelper;
 import org.alfresco.rest.workflow.api.impl.MapBasedQueryWalker;
 import org.alfresco.rest.workflow.api.impl.MapBasedQueryWalkerOrSupported;
-import org.alfresco.service.cmr.repository.InvalidNodeRefException;
-import org.alfresco.service.cmr.repository.NodeRef;
-import org.alfresco.service.cmr.repository.NodeService;
 import org.alfresco.service.cmr.security.AuthorityService;
 import org.alfresco.service.cmr.security.AuthorityType;
 import org.alfresco.service.cmr.security.PermissionService;
@@ -114,11 +110,9 @@ public class GroupsImpl implements Groups
     private final static Set<String> LIST_GROUP_MEMBERS_QUERY_PROPERTIES = new HashSet<>(List.of(PARAM_MEMBER_TYPE));
 
     protected AuthorityService authorityService;
-    protected NodeService nodeService;
     private AuthorityDAO authorityDAO;
 
     protected People people;
-    protected Nodes nodes;
 
     public AuthorityService getAuthorityService()
     {
@@ -130,10 +124,6 @@ public class GroupsImpl implements Groups
         this.authorityService = authorityService;
     }
 
-    public void setNodeService(NodeService nodeService) {
-        this.nodeService = nodeService;
-    }
-
     public void setAuthorityDAO(AuthorityDAO authorityDAO)
     {
         this.authorityDAO = authorityDAO;
@@ -144,10 +134,6 @@ public class GroupsImpl implements Groups
         this.people = people;
     }
 
-    public void setNodes(Nodes nodes) {
-        this.nodes = nodes;
-    }
-
     public Group create(Group group, Parameters parameters)
     {
         validateGroup(group, false);
@@ -185,29 +171,29 @@ public class GroupsImpl implements Groups
 
         try
         {
-            authorityService.setAuthorityDisplayName(groupId, group.getDisplayName());
+            if (StringUtils.isNotEmpty(group.getDescription()))
+            {
+                authorityService.setAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(groupId, group.getDisplayName(), group.getDescription());
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                authorityService.setAuthorityDisplayName(groupId, group.getDisplayName());
+            }
         }
         catch (AuthorityException ae)
         {
             handleAuthorityException(ae);
         }
 
-        if (StringUtils.isNotEmpty(group.getDescription()))
-        {
-            Map<QName, Serializable> props = new HashMap<>();
-            props.put(ContentModel.PROP_DESCRIPTION, group.getDescription());
-            authorityDAO.setAuthorityProperties(authorityService.getName(AuthorityType.GROUP, groupId), props);
-        }
-
         return getGroup(groupId, parameters);
     }
 
     public Group getGroup(String groupId, Parameters parameters) throws EntityNotFoundException
     {
-        AuthorityInfo authorityInfo = getAuthorityInfo(groupId);
+        final List<String> includeParam = parameters.getInclude();
+        AuthorityInfo authorityInfo = getAuthorityInfo(groupId, includeParam.contains(PARAM_INCLUDE_DESCRIPTION));
 
         final Set<String> rootAuthorities = getAllRootAuthorities(AuthorityType.GROUP);
-        final List<String> includeParam = parameters.getInclude();
 
         return getGroup(authorityInfo, includeParam, rootAuthorities);
     }
@@ -227,7 +213,7 @@ public class GroupsImpl implements Groups
         PagingResults<AuthorityInfo> pagingResult;
         try
         {
-            pagingResult = getAuthoritiesInfo(authorityType, groupsFilters, rootAuthorities, sortProp, paging);
+            pagingResult = getAuthoritiesInfo(authorityType, groupsFilters, rootAuthorities, sortProp, paging, parameters.getInclude().contains(PARAM_INCLUDE_DESCRIPTION));
         }
         catch (UnknownAuthorityException e)
         {
@@ -367,7 +353,7 @@ public class GroupsImpl implements Groups
                 filter(a -> a.startsWith(AuthorityType.GROUP.getPrefixString())).
                 filter(a -> isRootPredicate(finalIsRootParam, rootAuthorities, a)).
                 filter(a -> zonePredicate(a, finalZoneFilter)).
-                map(this::getAuthorityInfo).
+                map(a -> getAuthorityInfo(a, includeParam.contains(PARAM_INCLUDE_DESCRIPTION))).
                 sorted(new AuthorityInfoComparator(sortProp.getFirst(), sortProp.getSecond())).
                 collect(Collectors.toList());
 
@@ -386,7 +372,7 @@ public class GroupsImpl implements Groups
     }
 
     private PagingResults<AuthorityInfo> getAuthoritiesInfo(AuthorityType authorityType, GroupsFilter groupsFilter, Set<String> rootAuthorities, 
-                                                            Pair<String, Boolean> sortProp, Paging paging)
+                                                            Pair<String, Boolean> sortProp, Paging paging, boolean includeDescription)
     {
         Boolean isRootParam = groupsFilter.getIsRoot();
         String zoneFilter = groupsFilter.getZoneFilter();
@@ -402,7 +388,7 @@ public class GroupsImpl implements Groups
                 // Limit the post processing work by using the already loaded
                 // list of root authorities.
                 List<AuthorityInfo> authorities = rootAuthorities.stream().
-                        map(this::getAuthorityInfo).
+                        map(auth -> getAuthorityInfo(auth, includeDescription)).
                         filter(auth -> zonePredicate(auth.getAuthorityName(), zoneFilter)).
                         filter(auth -> displayNamePredicate(auth.getAuthorityDisplayName(), displayNameFilter)).
                         collect(Collectors.toList());
@@ -557,9 +543,9 @@ public class GroupsImpl implements Groups
      *            The authority name.
      * @return The authority info.
      */
-    private AuthorityInfo getAuthorityInfo(String id)
+    private AuthorityInfo getAuthorityInfo(String id, boolean includeDescription)
     {
-        return getAuthorityInfo(id, false);
+        return getAuthorityInfo(id, includeDescription, false);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -568,11 +554,13 @@ public class GroupsImpl implements Groups
      *
      * @param id
      *            The authority name.
+     * @param includeDescription
+     *            True if description should be loaded
      * @param defaultDisplayNameIfNull
      *            True if we would like to get a default value (e.g. shortName of the authority) if the authority display name is null.
      * @return The authority info.
      */
-    private AuthorityInfo getAuthorityInfo(String id, boolean defaultDisplayNameIfNull)
+    private AuthorityInfo getAuthorityInfo(String id, boolean includeDescription, boolean defaultDisplayNameIfNull)
     {
         if (id == null || id.isEmpty())
         {
@@ -585,9 +573,20 @@ public class GroupsImpl implements Groups
             throw new EntityNotFoundException(id);
         }
 
-        String authorityDisplayName = getAuthorityDisplayName(id, defaultDisplayNameIfNull);
+        String authorityDisplayName;
+        String description = null;
 
-        return new AuthorityInfo(null, authorityDisplayName, id);
+        if (includeDescription)
+        {
+            Pair<String, String> displayNameAndDescription = getAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(id, defaultDisplayNameIfNull);
+            authorityDisplayName = displayNameAndDescription.getFirst();
+            description = displayNameAndDescription.getSecond();
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            authorityDisplayName = getAuthorityDisplayName(id, defaultDisplayNameIfNull);
+        }
+        return new AuthorityInfo(null, authorityDisplayName, id, description);
     }
 
     private String getAuthorityDisplayName(String id, boolean defaultDisplayNameIfNull)
@@ -595,6 +594,11 @@ public class GroupsImpl implements Groups
         return defaultDisplayNameIfNull ? authorityService.getAuthorityDisplayName(id) : authorityDAO.getAuthorityDisplayName(id);
     }
 
+    private Pair<String, String> getAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(String id, boolean defaultDisplayNameIfNull)
+    {
+        return defaultDisplayNameIfNull ? authorityService.getAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(id) : authorityDAO.getAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(id);
+    }
+
     private Group getGroup(AuthorityInfo authorityInfo, List<String> includeParam, Set<String> rootAuthorities)
     {
         if (authorityInfo == null)
@@ -607,37 +611,24 @@ public class GroupsImpl implements Groups
 
         // REPO-1743
         String authorityDisplayName = authorityInfo.getAuthorityDisplayName();
+        String description = authorityInfo.getDescription();
         if (authorityDisplayName == null || authorityDisplayName.isEmpty())
         {
-            authorityDisplayName = authorityService.getAuthorityDisplayName(authorityInfo.getAuthorityName());
+            if (includeParam != null && includeParam.contains(PARAM_INCLUDE_DESCRIPTION))
+            {
+                Pair<String, String> displayNameAndDescription = authorityService.getAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(authorityInfo.getAuthorityName());
+                authorityDisplayName = displayNameAndDescription.getFirst();
+                description = displayNameAndDescription.getSecond();
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                authorityDisplayName = authorityService.getAuthorityDisplayName(authorityInfo.getAuthorityName());
+            }
         }
 
         group.setDisplayName(authorityDisplayName);
-
-        group.setIsRoot(isRootAuthority(rootAuthorities, authorityInfo.getAuthorityName()));
-
-        Set<String> containedAuthorities;
-        try
-        {
-            containedAuthorities = authorityService.getContainedAuthorities(AuthorityType.GROUP, authorityInfo.getAuthorityName(), true);
-        } catch (UnknownAuthorityException e)
-        {
-            containedAuthorities = Collections.emptySet();
-        }
-        group.setHasSubgroups(CollectionUtils.isNotEmpty(containedAuthorities));
-
-        NodeRef groupNodeRef = authorityService.getAuthorityNodeRef(authorityInfo.getAuthorityName());
-        String description;
-        try
-        {
-            description = groupNodeRef != null && nodeService.getProperty(groupNodeRef, ContentModel.PROP_DESCRIPTION) != null ?
-                    nodeService.getProperty(groupNodeRef, ContentModel.PROP_DESCRIPTION).toString() :
-                    null;
-        } catch (InvalidNodeRefException e)
-        {
-            description = null;
-        }
         group.setDescription(description);
+        group.setIsRoot(isRootAuthority(rootAuthorities, authorityInfo.getAuthorityName()));
 
         // Optionally include
         if (includeParam != null)
@@ -660,6 +651,19 @@ public class GroupsImpl implements Groups
                 Set<String> authorityZones = authorityService.getAuthorityZones(authorityInfo.getAuthorityName());
                 group.setZones(authorityZones);
             }
+
+            if (includeParam.contains(PARAM_INCLUDE_HAS_SUBGROUPS))
+            {
+                Set<String> containedAuthorities;
+                try
+                {
+                    containedAuthorities = authorityService.getContainedAuthorities(AuthorityType.GROUP, authorityInfo.getAuthorityName(), true);
+                } catch (UnknownAuthorityException e)
+                {
+                    containedAuthorities = Collections.emptySet();
+                }
+                group.setHasSubgroups(CollectionUtils.isNotEmpty(containedAuthorities));
+            }
         }
 
         return group;
@@ -947,7 +951,7 @@ public class GroupsImpl implements Groups
         }
 
         List<AuthorityInfo> authorityInfoList = new ArrayList<>(authorities.size());
-        authorityInfoList.addAll(authorities.stream().map(this::getAuthorityInfo).collect(Collectors.toList()));
+        authorityInfoList.addAll(authorities.stream().map(auth -> getAuthorityInfo(auth, false)).collect(Collectors.toList()));
 
         // Post process sorting - this should be moved to service
         // layer. It is done here because sorting is not supported at
@@ -996,7 +1000,7 @@ public class GroupsImpl implements Groups
 
     private GroupMember getGroupMember(String authorityId)
     {
-        AuthorityInfo authorityInfo = getAuthorityInfo(authorityId);
+        AuthorityInfo authorityInfo = getAuthorityInfo(authorityId, false);
 
         return getGroupMember(authorityInfo);
     }
diff --git a/remote-api/src/main/resources/alfresco/public-rest-context.xml b/remote-api/src/main/resources/alfresco/public-rest-context.xml
index 8be6d2fa2c..f5627ad823 100644
--- a/remote-api/src/main/resources/alfresco/public-rest-context.xml
+++ b/remote-api/src/main/resources/alfresco/public-rest-context.xml
@@ -1693,8 +1693,6 @@
         <property name="authorityService" ref="AuthorityService" />
         <property name="authorityDAO" ref="authorityDAO" />
         <property name="people" ref="people"/>
-        <property name="nodes" ref="Nodes"/>
-        <property name="nodeService" ref="NodeService" />
     </bean>
 
     <bean id="Groups" class="org.springframework.aop.framework.ProxyFactoryBean">
diff --git a/remote-api/src/test/java/org/alfresco/rest/api/tests/GroupsTest.java b/remote-api/src/test/java/org/alfresco/rest/api/tests/GroupsTest.java
index 4d28bb07e6..da3245ee3a 100644
--- a/remote-api/src/test/java/org/alfresco/rest/api/tests/GroupsTest.java
+++ b/remote-api/src/test/java/org/alfresco/rest/api/tests/GroupsTest.java
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ public class GroupsTest extends AbstractSingleNetworkSiteTest
     private static final String MEMBER_TYPE_GROUP = "GROUP";
     private static final String MEMBER_TYPE_PERSON = "PERSON";
     private static final String GROUP_EVERYONE = "GROUP_EVERYONE";
+    private static final String INCLUDE_DESCRIPTION_HAS_SUBGROUPS = "description,hasSubgroups";
 
     protected AuthorityService authorityService;
 
@@ -666,13 +667,13 @@ public class GroupsTest extends AbstractSingleNetworkSiteTest
         assertNotNull(group.getId());
         assertNotNull(group.getDisplayName());
         assertNotNull(group.getIsRoot());
-        assertNotNull(group.getHasSubgroups());
 
         if (!ignoreOptionallyIncluded)
         {
             // Optionally included.
             assertNull(group.getParentIds());
             assertNull(group.getZones());
+            assertNotNull(group.getHasSubgroups());
         }
     }
 
@@ -1420,12 +1421,12 @@ public class GroupsTest extends AbstractSingleNetworkSiteTest
             setRequestContext(networkOne.getId(), networkAdmin, DEFAULT_ADMIN_PWD);
 
             Map<String, String> otherParams = new HashMap<>();
-            otherParams.put("include", org.alfresco.rest.api.Groups.PARAM_INCLUDE_PARENT_IDS);
+            otherParams.put("include", INCLUDE_DESCRIPTION_HAS_SUBGROUPS);
 
             Group group = generateGroup();
             group.setDescription("testDesc");
 
-            Group createdGroup01 = groupsProxy.createGroup(group, null, HttpServletResponse.SC_CREATED);
+            Group createdGroup01 = groupsProxy.createGroup(group, otherParams, HttpServletResponse.SC_CREATED);
 
             assertNotNull(createdGroup01);
             assertNotNull(createdGroup01.getId());
@@ -1440,6 +1441,7 @@ public class GroupsTest extends AbstractSingleNetworkSiteTest
             Group subGroup01 = generateGroup();
             subGroup01.setParentIds(subGroup01Parents);
 
+            otherParams.put("include", org.alfresco.rest.api.Groups.PARAM_INCLUDE_PARENT_IDS + "," + INCLUDE_DESCRIPTION_HAS_SUBGROUPS);
             Group createdSubGroup01 = groupsProxy.createGroup(subGroup01, otherParams, HttpServletResponse.SC_CREATED);
             assertNotNull(createdSubGroup01);
             assertNotNull(createdSubGroup01.getId());
@@ -1449,7 +1451,7 @@ public class GroupsTest extends AbstractSingleNetworkSiteTest
             assertFalse(createdSubGroup01.getHasSubgroups());
 
             //validate if parent group now has any subgroup
-            Group group01 = groupsProxy.getGroup(createdGroup01.getId(), null, HttpServletResponse.SC_OK);
+            Group group01 = groupsProxy.getGroup(createdGroup01.getId(), otherParams, HttpServletResponse.SC_OK);
             assertTrue(group01.getHasSubgroups());
         }
 
@@ -1623,7 +1625,7 @@ public class GroupsTest extends AbstractSingleNetworkSiteTest
         final Groups groupsProxy = publicApiClient.groups();
 
         Map<String, String> otherParams = new HashMap<>();
-        otherParams.put("include", org.alfresco.rest.api.Groups.PARAM_INCLUDE_PARENT_IDS);
+        otherParams.put("include", org.alfresco.rest.api.Groups.PARAM_INCLUDE_PARENT_IDS + "," + org.alfresco.rest.api.Groups.PARAM_INCLUDE_DESCRIPTION);
 
         setRequestContext(networkOne.getId(), networkAdmin, DEFAULT_ADMIN_PWD);
 
diff --git a/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityDAO.java b/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityDAO.java
index a6b685d6c5..993a93b3a7 100644
--- a/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityDAO.java
+++ b/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityDAO.java
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import org.alfresco.service.cmr.repository.NodeRef;
 import org.alfresco.service.cmr.security.AuthorityType;
 import org.alfresco.service.cmr.security.AuthorityService.AuthorityFilter;
 import org.alfresco.service.namespace.QName;
+import org.alfresco.util.Pair;
 
 public interface AuthorityDAO
 {
@@ -152,10 +153,17 @@ public interface AuthorityDAO
     void setAuthorityDisplayName(String authorityName, String authorityDisplayName);
 
     /**
-     * Set the properties for an authority
+     * Get the display name and description for an authority
+     *
+     * @return the display name and description
      */
-    void setAuthorityProperties(String authorityName, Map<QName, Serializable> properties);
-    
+    Pair<String, String> getAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(String authorityName);
+
+    /**
+     * Set the display name and description for an authority
+     */
+    void setAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(String authorityName, String authorityDisplayName, String description);
+
     /**
      * Get root authorities
      */
diff --git a/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityDAOImpl.java b/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityDAOImpl.java
index 86c96957e8..085bcca96a 100644
--- a/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityDAOImpl.java
+++ b/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityDAOImpl.java
@@ -1442,18 +1442,29 @@ public class AuthorityDAOImpl implements AuthorityDAO, NodeServicePolicies.Befor
             return;
         }
         nodeService.setProperty(ref, ContentModel.PROP_AUTHORITY_DISPLAY_NAME, authorityDisplayName);
-
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public void setAuthorityProperties(String authorityName, Map<QName, Serializable> properties)
+    public Pair<String, String> getAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(String authorityName)
+    {
+        NodeRef ref = getAuthorityOrNull(authorityName);
+        if (ref == null)
+        {
+            return Pair.nullPair();
+        }
+        Serializable displayName = nodeService.getProperty(ref, ContentModel.PROP_AUTHORITY_DISPLAY_NAME);
+        Serializable description = nodeService.getProperty(ref, ContentModel.PROP_DESCRIPTION);
+        return new Pair<>(DefaultTypeConverter.INSTANCE.convert(String.class, displayName), DefaultTypeConverter.INSTANCE.convert(String.class, description));
+    }
+
+    public void setAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(String authorityName, String authorityDisplayName, String description)
     {
         NodeRef ref = getAuthorityOrNull(authorityName);
         if (ref == null)
         {
             return;
         }
-        properties.forEach((key, value) -> nodeService.setProperty(ref, key, value));
+        nodeService.setProperty(ref, ContentModel.PROP_AUTHORITY_DISPLAY_NAME, authorityDisplayName);
+        nodeService.setProperty(ref, ContentModel.PROP_DESCRIPTION, description);
     }
 
     public NodeRef getOrCreateZone(String zoneName)
diff --git a/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityInfo.java b/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityInfo.java
index 9d6729acc1..cce5aa326b 100644
--- a/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityInfo.java
+++ b/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityInfo.java
@@ -1,28 +1,28 @@
-/*
- * #%L
- * Alfresco Repository
- * %%
- * Copyright (C) 2005 - 2016 Alfresco Software Limited
- * %%
- * This file is part of the Alfresco software. 
- * If the software was purchased under a paid Alfresco license, the terms of 
- * the paid license agreement will prevail.  Otherwise, the software is 
- * provided under the following open source license terms:
- * 
- * Alfresco is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
- * it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
- * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
- * (at your option) any later version.
- * 
- * Alfresco is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
- * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
- * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
- * GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
- * 
- * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
- * along with Alfresco. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
- * #L%
- */
+/*
+ * #%L
+ * Alfresco Repository
+ * %%
+ * Copyright (C) 2005 - 2016 Alfresco Software Limited
+ * %%
+ * This file is part of the Alfresco software. 
+ * If the software was purchased under a paid Alfresco license, the terms of 
+ * the paid license agreement will prevail.  Otherwise, the software is 
+ * provided under the following open source license terms:
+ * 
+ * Alfresco is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ * 
+ * Alfresco is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ * 
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+ * along with Alfresco. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ * #L%
+ */
 package org.alfresco.repo.security.authority;
 
 import org.alfresco.api.AlfrescoPublicApi;
@@ -39,15 +39,24 @@ import org.alfresco.service.cmr.security.AuthorityType;
 public class AuthorityInfo
 {
     private Long nodeId;
-    
     private String authorityDisplayName; // eg. My Group, My Role
     private String authorityName;        // eg. GROUP_my1, ROLE_myA
+    private String description;
     
+    public AuthorityInfo(Long nodeId, String authorityDisplayName, String authorityName, String description)
+    {
+        this.nodeId = nodeId;
+        this.authorityDisplayName = authorityDisplayName;
+        this.authorityName = authorityName;
+        this.description = description;
+    }
+
     public AuthorityInfo(Long nodeId, String authorityDisplayName, String authorityName)
     {
         this.nodeId = nodeId;
         this.authorityDisplayName = authorityDisplayName;
         this.authorityName = authorityName;
+        this.description = null;
     }
     
     public Long getNodeId()
@@ -65,6 +74,10 @@ public class AuthorityInfo
         return authorityName;
     }
 
+    public String getDescription() {
+        return description;
+    }
+
     public String getShortName()
     {
         AuthorityType type = AuthorityType.getAuthorityType(authorityName);
diff --git a/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityServiceImpl.java b/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityServiceImpl.java
index 8efd66b507..7923bcffe4 100644
--- a/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityServiceImpl.java
+++ b/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityServiceImpl.java
@@ -696,6 +696,29 @@ public class AuthorityServiceImpl implements AuthorityService, InitializingBean
         checkTypeIsMutable(type);
         authorityDAO.setAuthorityDisplayName(authorityName, authorityDisplayName);
     }
+
+    /**
+     * {@inheritDoc}
+     */
+    public Pair<String, String> getAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(String name)
+    {
+        Pair<String, String> displayNameAndDescription = authorityDAO.getAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(name);
+        if(displayNameAndDescription.getFirst() == null)
+        {
+            displayNameAndDescription.setFirst(getShortName(name));
+        }
+        return displayNameAndDescription;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * {@inheritDoc}
+     */
+    public void setAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(String authorityName, String authorityDisplayName, String description)
+    {
+        AuthorityType type = AuthorityType.getAuthorityType(authorityName);
+        checkTypeIsMutable(type);
+        authorityDAO.setAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(authorityName, authorityDisplayName, description);
+    }
     
     /**
      * {@inheritDoc}
diff --git a/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/service/cmr/security/AuthorityService.java b/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/service/cmr/security/AuthorityService.java
index e1cd6ac1ff..65835cc45e 100644
--- a/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/service/cmr/security/AuthorityService.java
+++ b/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/service/cmr/security/AuthorityService.java
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import org.alfresco.service.Auditable;
 import org.alfresco.service.NotAuditable;
 import org.alfresco.service.cmr.repository.NodeRef;
 import org.alfresco.service.namespace.QName;
+import org.alfresco.util.Pair;
 
 /**
  * The service that encapsulates authorities granted to users.
@@ -441,7 +442,16 @@ public interface AuthorityService
      * @return - the display name
      */
     @Auditable(parameters = {"name"})
-    public String getAuthorityDisplayName(String name);
+    String getAuthorityDisplayName(String name);
+
+    /**
+     * Get the display name and description for the given authority.
+     *
+     * @param name - the full authority string including any prefix (e.g. GROUP_woof)
+     * @return - pair containing display name and description
+     */
+    @Auditable(parameters = {"name"})
+    Pair<String, String> getAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(String name);
     
     /**
      * Set the display name for the given authority.
@@ -451,7 +461,18 @@ public interface AuthorityService
      * @param authorityDisplayName String
      */
     @Auditable(parameters = {"authorityName", "authorityDisplayName"})
-    public void setAuthorityDisplayName(String authorityName, String authorityDisplayName);
+    void setAuthorityDisplayName(String authorityName, String authorityDisplayName);
+
+    /**
+     * Set the display name and description for the given authority.
+     * Setting the display name is only supported for authorities of type group
+     *
+     * @param authorityName String
+     * @param authorityDisplayName String
+     * @param description String
+     */
+    @Auditable(parameters = {"authorityName", "authorityDisplayName", "description"})
+    void setAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(String authorityName, String authorityDisplayName, String description);
 
     /**
      * Gets the authority node for the specified name
diff --git a/repository/src/test/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityServiceTest.java b/repository/src/test/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityServiceTest.java
index 2dc6af536f..eb4753b0f9 100644
--- a/repository/src/test/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityServiceTest.java
+++ b/repository/src/test/java/org/alfresco/repo/security/authority/AuthorityServiceTest.java
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ import org.alfresco.service.namespace.RegexQNamePattern;
 import org.alfresco.service.transaction.TransactionService;
 import org.alfresco.test_category.OwnJVMTestsCategory;
 import org.alfresco.util.ApplicationContextHelper;
+import org.alfresco.util.Pair;
 import org.alfresco.util.testing.category.LuceneTests;
 import org.alfresco.util.testing.category.RedundantTests;
 import org.junit.FixMethodOrder;
@@ -616,34 +617,6 @@ public class AuthorityServiceTest extends TestCase
         pubAuthorityService.deleteAuthority(auth);
     }
 
-    @Test
-    public void testUpdateAuthorityProperties()
-    {
-        String auth;
-        String groupName = "TESTGROUP";
-        String prefixedGroupName = "GROUP_TESTGROUP";
-        String description = "testDesc";
-        String title = "testTitle";
-        Map<QName, Serializable> props = new HashMap<>();
-        props.put(ContentModel.PROP_DESCRIPTION, description);
-        props.put(ContentModel.PROP_TITLE, title);
-
-        // create authority with properties
-        auth = pubAuthorityService.createAuthority(AuthorityType.GROUP, groupName, props);
-        assertTrue(pubAuthorityService.authorityExists(prefixedGroupName));
-
-        // update authority properties
-        String newDescription = "newTestDesc";
-        String newTitle = "newTestTitle";
-        props.put(ContentModel.PROP_DESCRIPTION, newDescription);
-        props.put(ContentModel.PROP_TITLE, newTitle);
-        authorityDAO.setAuthorityProperties(auth, props);
-        NodeRef nodeRef = pubAuthorityService.getAuthorityNodeRef(auth);
-        assertEquals(nodeService.getProperty(nodeRef, ContentModel.PROP_DESCRIPTION), newDescription);
-        assertEquals(nodeService.getProperty(nodeRef, ContentModel.PROP_TITLE), newTitle);
-        pubAuthorityService.deleteAuthority(auth);
-    }
-        
     public void testCreateOwnerAuth()
     {
         try
@@ -1459,6 +1432,20 @@ public class AuthorityServiceTest extends TestCase
         assertEquals(pubAuthorityService.getAuthorityDisplayName("ROLE_Gibbon"), "Gibbon");
         assertEquals(pubAuthorityService.getAuthorityDisplayName("Monkey"), "Monkey");
     }
+
+    public void testAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription()
+    {
+        Map<QName, Serializable> props = new HashMap<>();
+        props.put(ContentModel.PROP_DESCRIPTION, "Test auth description");
+        String testAuth = pubAuthorityService.createAuthority(AuthorityType.GROUP, "Test auth", props);
+        Pair<String, String> displayNameAndDescription = pubAuthorityService.getAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(testAuth);
+        assertEquals(displayNameAndDescription.getFirst(), "Test auth");
+        assertEquals(displayNameAndDescription.getSecond(), "Test auth description");
+        pubAuthorityService.setAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(testAuth, "Modified auth", "Modified description");
+        displayNameAndDescription = pubAuthorityService.getAuthorityDisplayNameAndDescription(testAuth);
+        assertEquals(displayNameAndDescription.getFirst(), "Modified auth");
+        assertEquals(displayNameAndDescription.getSecond(), "Modified description");
+    }
     
     public void testGetAuthoritiesFilteringSorting()
     {