Stonehaven Community Council's focus on connection and celebration!
Added at 14:47 on 15 October 2025
In our last update, we looked at how Stonehaven and District Community Council was sharpening its focus on communication and public involvement. That vision took a confident step forward last night, as Rachel Frame chaired her first meeting after being unanimously elected by fellow councillors.
Rachel’s leadership style is already making a positive impression — thoughtful, clear, and community-focused. Her first meeting as Chair was conducted with confidence and care, featuring open and highly productive discussion around the agenda. Full coverage of the meeting will follow from The Bellman’s editorial team.
The SDCC website and the early changes she’s already made will feature in this part of the article. Rachel is clear in her objective: the site should be a tool for engagement, inclusion, transparency, and information sharing. It’s not just about posting documents and minutes — it’s about making the Community Council more accessible, more welcoming, and more useful to the people it serves.
Early tweaks are already live, with more improvements to come as part of a broader push to modernise how SDCC connects with the community. It’s all part of a reinvigorated effort to make local decision-making more open, more regular, and more human — because the more we share, the better we shape Stonehaven together. Also SDCC would be delighted to hear from you if you have any ideas or suggestions as to how we might improve the website further or you think there may be other or better ways of connecting with the community.
With civic business ticked off, it’s time for the real agenda — one tree to dazzle, one freezing plunge to test the mettle, and a whole lot of festive plotting to keep the town on its toes.
Jim Stephen who leads on the fabulous fir was delighted to receive funding from the Community Council and from A&I Taxis to buy new decorations and equipment which will help the festive efforts enormously. I am sure that you will agree that last year's Stoney Christmas Tree was an absolute belter and there was not one anywhere that could beat it. So the bar has now been set, but Jim reckons he can go the extra hard yards and do better this year, and I have absolutely no doubt that him and his team of elves, pixies and faries will do so! Watch this space for updates.
David Lawman who is the lead for the Nippy Dip also advised that planning for this special bit of post-Hogmanay lunacy is also gearing up and that more details will follow in this column as well. David was keen to stress that when the online booking system is open that as many people as possible book their place online as this helps enormously on the day. But don’t let that deter you, if you haven't registered online turn up anyway! Also don’t wait till then, start your sponsorships now and get the cash rolling in and let’s do bigger and better that last year.
That wraps up this month’s informal update from the Community Council — a strong start under new leadership, with early progress already underway. I’ll return next month with another informal update and thanks for reading.