Advising on local government issues involves understanding the law but also the political environment Councils and Councillors are operating in.
For councillors, who are the decision-making brain of Council they must navigate the tricky balance of their obligations to constituents and following Council processes. They often find themselves effectively silenced by claims they're offside with compelling expertise and legal advice. We have seen incorrect procedural advice from Council officers used to obstruct Councillors who challenge programmes they support. Similarly, Code of Conduct complaints can be used between Councillors to challenge dissenting decisions.
Having served local authorities, government departments dealing with local government issues and individual ratepayers, Franks Ogilvie understands the need for pragmatic advice.
We are a specialist firm. Clear unambiguous advice on what the law is, rather than what someone would like it to be, is most likely to serve the client's interests.
