Public Money Accepted but No Public Access Permitted at Trustee Meeting at Recreation Ground
THEY are happy to pocket hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money – but the subscribers to Stonehaven Recreation Grounds tonight refused public access to their annual meeting.
As tennis players and bowlers were arriving in the tearoom, both the chair of Stonehaven and District Community Council and myself were asked to leave the gathering, the purpose of which was to elect trustees for the forthcoming year.
Mr Lawman announced himself as chair of our Community Council. I was identified as a member of the press – we both made it clear we wished to be present only to gain an understanding of the Grounds’ management.
Cllr Wendy Agnew, who is a subscriber, said the meeting would have to be cancelled if we refused to leave.
We did not ask to vote, just to be present to gain understanding
Following 2022’s participatory budgeting exercise by Aberdeenshire Council, Recreation Grounds secured £250,000 towards the provision of indoor tennis courts and £150,000 to develop the outdoor areas.
Despite this investment, no-one walking past the Recreation Grounds can fail to see the dismal state of the re-modelled putting green and its surroundings. The lower bowling green is no longer fit for purpose and a weedy mess surrounds the newly installed petanque area.
Internal disputes have been made public, with trustees claiming the tennis club were going ahead with the inflatable arena without their consent. And at a recent EGM, the treasurer was unable to present a competent set of accounts.
Concerns have been raised over the running of the Recreation Grounds by club members – and by users of the caravan park. One static caravan owner contacted The Bellman to say she was unhappy they had no representation despite paying annual fees and she questioned the definition of a ‘subscriber’.
She stated: ”Obviously most of the caravanners do not live in Stonehaven, although they do ‘ subscribe’ a considerable part of the annual revenue of the recreation grounds.”
Stonehaven Town Hall Order Confirmation Act 1902
Much store is set in the words of a Victorian act of Parliament that saw assets being transferred to the Town Council – including the Town Hall, the market-house spire and clock and a weighbridge.
And the management and lease to the Recreation Grounds were transferred to: ”A reconstituted body of elective trustees on which the Town Council should be represented.”
According to the act, there should be six trustees elected each February by subscribers and three appointed by the Council.
Unfortunately for some years now, councillors have stopped accepting the role of trustee, so the grounds have been managed without any trustee representing the interests of the general public of Stonehaven.
No public representation no transparency
Without anyone championing the rights/needs of the general public in what is surely Stonehaven’s biggest public asset we are in the hands of trustees representing only the vested interests of those enjoying bowls and tennis.
Mr Lawman said he was sad his efforts to represent the community as chair of SDCC had been rebuffed.
He said: ”I am disappointed to be asked to leave. It would have been nice for the community to see how the Recreation Grounds works.”