Title

LEGAL

Steering clear of the local government cover-up

Patricia Grinyer warns that for in-house lawyers and section 151 officers professional duties must never come in second place behind organisational loyalty or expediency. Councils must champion transparency.

(C) Natali _ Mis / Shutterstock

In the busy world of local government, the pressure to deliver, maintain public trust and navigate political scrutiny is ever-present. Yet, history repeatedly shows that when things go wrong, it is not always the original failing that causes the greatest damage, it is the attempt to cover up.

For in-house local government solicitors and section 151 officers, the lessons from public inquiries and regulatory investigations can be stark: transparency, integrity and robust governance are not optional – they are essential.

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