Blonde:You're right.
The official line, which was re-emphasied about five or six years ago (before I left) is that Public Speakers request counsel from the TMSO. I don't recall if this was in a BOE letter or from a C.O.'s outline for the Elder's meeting, though.
The only time I received counsel, after becoming an Elder, was at a Circuit Assembly. Some here know the D.O. who counselled me - David Algar - LOL.
As TMSO for about three years or so, I was only once ever asked for counsel, and it was never repeated because I gave the bruvver something to work on