MEMBERS of Stonehaven and District Community Council, SDCC, are to ask the trustees of Stonehaven Recreation Grounds for a meeting, in the hopes a ‘direct conversation’ will bring some transparency to their management.
Who runs the Recreation Grounds?
For almost a century, the large area of land near the beachfront was owned by the local authority – and leased to nine trustees, including three from the ranks of the town’s councillors. These trustees oversaw the running of the grounds, which were once a hugely popular tourist attraction.
The Long Leases Scotland Act of 2012, saw ownership passing from Aberdeenshire Council to the trustees, in 2017.
Now, our elected councillors no longer accept nomination as trustees, leaving the Grounds in the hands of six club representatives – two each from the Bowling, Indoor Bowling and the Tennis Clubs.
Any councillor attending meetings does so as an advisor – a role confirmed in a recent paper by Aberdeenshire Council stating its perceived relationship to the grounds, see below.
Where is the community oversight?
The Recreation Grounds have received large amounts of public money – notably being allocated £400,000 from the 2022 paricipatory budget vote aimed at improving the town’s leisure amenities. But the projects limp on with a surrounding mess of mounds of soil.
Last month, club members at the Grounds refused SDCC chair David Lawman entry to their annual meeting to elect trustees.
And, at Tuesday night’s meeting, he told SDCC members he was concerned there was no longer any community representation in their management.
”As far as any of us understand, the Recreation Grounds were donated to the town,” he said.
He added: ”We saw the councillors as looking after the community interest, pulling everything all together. But councillors have moved from being active trustees to observers.
”There is no community oversight.”
Brian Menzies said: ”It is such an important area for Stonehaven, transparency would be a good thing. We have no idea how these people manage it for the people of Stonehaven.’
Trustees are not aware of their obligations
Former trustee, Mr John Agnew attended the meeting and explained the history of the Grounds and the rationale behind the establishment of a board of trustees through an Act of Parliament – the Stonehaven Town Hall Confirmation Order Act 1902.
He said: ”It was done, as was common practise then, in order to give what is the legal status backed by law to ensure the continuation of the Recreation Grounds objectives in perpetuity on behalf of its users.”
Mr Agnew said the trustees were entirely responsible for the maintenance of the Grounds.
And Mr Agnew dismissed Aberdeenshire Council’s approach to councillor involvement.
He said: ”There is no such thing as a councillor being appointed as an advisor. Every trustee has the same status in law.”
He added: ”The fault lies with the trustees themselves, who do not ensure they are instructed in their duties and obligations.”
Plea for putting and transparency
It was a long discussion. Ian Hunter said more consideration should be given to the other users – caravan owners, petanque players and those enjoying walking football.
But it was Jim Stephen who summed up the frustration those who have missed entire seasons of 18-hole fun.
”I just want a game of putting,” he said.
And, saying there should be more clarity in the running of the Grounds to enable greater community involvement, Mr Stephen proposed SDCC request a meeting with the trustees – a move that was met with all-round support.
What Aberdeenshire Council say
Previously in The Bellman