Day: February 18, 2021

Plans for Currie Community High School unveiled

Innovative plans and images that will make the new Currie Community High School one of the most energy efficient high schools in Scotland have been unveiled.

The campus will be the first Passivhaus-designed high school in the country setting the standard for energy consumption across school estates. Passivhaus is a rigorous energy standard which reduces the amount of energy needed for heating by up to 90%. It also lowers the total amount of energy used by around 70% and minimises carbon emissions. The new school will support Edinburgh’s aim of net zero emissions by 2030.  

At the heart of the new school plans are five core elements: education, inclusion, outdoor learning and sustainability, digital learning and community access.

The school will have a series of learning zones for pupils with breakout areas which include:

  • Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) over 3 levels with dual-teaching classrooms, science labs, technician areas and a learning plaza
  • Languages and Humanities with dual-teaching classrooms, learning plaza and a debating chamber
  • Expressive Arts with music rooms, a recording studio, art studios including a kiln room, dance studios, drama studio and stage
  • Health and Wellbeing with a gym hall, games hall, fitness suite and swimming pool, food technology and hospitality
  • Integrated Support with wellbeing hub, support for learning classroom, a sensory room and a sensory garden

There is a strong emphasis on outdoor learning with the creation of a special terrace on the second floor providing all of the learning zones with immediate access to external teaching spaces.

This focus will shape the curriculum on offer and ensure these outdoor spaces promote sustainability and link lifelong learning to the surrounding grounds of the school and community.  

Health and wellbeing also feature prominently in the designs with the creation of a dedicated wellbeing hub and separate wellness centre to support pupils. The hub will be based in the integrated support zone and is a dedicated room in a quiet location which can be used as part of a planned alternative/flexible timetable to help young people learn in a variety of settings.

The wellness centre will be in the community and sports side of the building and will provide a space for counselling and activities to support improved mental health.

A series of engagement events have been held with staff, pupils from both the high school and cluster primary schools, parents and the local community in the past two years as the plans have been developed.

As a result of this early community engagement the new building will offer the community daytime, evening and weekend access to an intergenerational community hub. Visitors can drop in to the library space in the foyer, access meeting rooms and digital services, visit the café, keep healthy at the gym and pool or enjoy a walk around the grounds.

The new school is one of the projects included in the first phase of the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme. It will be designed in line with the guiding principles of the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Strategy and is expected to be completed in 2024.

Jenny Smith, Currie Community High School Head Teacher, said: “We’re incredibly excited as a community about our new school. The designs are coming together beautifully and truly representative of our community vision for education and lifelong learning.

“Our new school is going to be innovative and pioneering in every way, very much flying the Passivhaus flag, and of course, the first of its kind in Scotland. 

“This is an opportunity like no other to venture into the world of 21st century education. Currie Community High School is an ambitious and aspirational school for all with the principles of inclusive practice permeating everything we do. 

“The inclusive spaces in the new build will continue to strengthen our work where the future generations of Currie will benefit from an experience where everyone can reach their amazing potential.  Although, uncertainty will prevail in an unfolding unpredictable world, it is what we can achieve together as a community that best prepares our young people to embrace the exciting unknown.

“The emphasis of our new build will be on enhancing the learner experience through exciting use of new versatile, transformational spaces within learning plazas, break-out areas and classroom settings.

“These spaces, all fit for purpose, will enable learning to take place in a variety of ways, creating conditions where young people can continue to contribute and have impact on the global community that surrounds them.”

Councillor Ian Perry, Education, Children and Families Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “These are really exciting times for the Currie community as these pioneering designs really are the blueprint for the schools of the future.

“There are so many innovative elements to the plans with energy efficiency at its centre. This will make the new campus the first high school in Scotland to meet Passivhaus standards and supports Edinburgh’s aim of net zero emissions by 2030.

“The new Currie Community High School will provide a first-class learning environment and an exciting, inspirational and creative hub for the whole community.

“This is an exciting period for education in the Capital with recent new builds and projects under construction demonstrating our ambitious new school building programme with £500m investment planned over the next 10 years.”

Councillor Alison Dickie, Education, Children and Families Vice Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “As a Council we are taking every opportunity to innovatively build schools for the future that are fit for 21st Century learning and the plans for the new Currie Community High School really do tick all the boxes.

“I’m really pleased to see that inclusion and health and wellbeing form key parts of the designs with the creation of the two hubs. It’s so important the new schools support greater accessibility and inclusion for all our young people especially with the immense challenges they have faced in the past year.

“There’s been plenty of positive engagement with parents, pupils and the local community over the past two years which has helped shape these plans and given everyone a real sense of ownership of the new school. We’ll make sure this continues as these exciting designs are taken forward with the new school expected to open its doors in 2024.”

Every Penny Feeds: Leith’s Utilita supports North East Foodbank

The Utilita Energy Hub team in Leith has donated £1,500 to Edinburgh North East Foodbank, as part of Utilita’s vital ‘Every Penny Feeds’ initiative.

The nationwide fundraiser saw Utilita donate a penny for every smart meter top-up made via the award-winning My Utilita app throughout December 2020, raising £17,000 in total for foodbank charities across the UK. The initiative is part of Utilita’s pledge for its customer-facing staff to deliver at least 10,000 hours’ worth of time supporting foodbanks across the UK in 2021. 

Charities receiving the donations include UK wide food charity FareShare, London-based The Felix Project, and six local foodbanks across the Utilita Energy Hub network. With around two million UK households having used a foodbank in the UK in 2020 – an extra 300,000 more than in 2019[1] – the valuable donations will help to provide meals for families and individuals experiencing poverty during the pandemic.

Alison Roxburgh, Manager of Edinburgh North East Foodbank, commented on the donation: “Edinburgh North East Foodbank, which covers the Leith area, supported 4,159 individuals and families with emergency food parcels last year.

“As we continue to live in uncertain times, with the country still in lockdown, the furlough scheme coming to an end, and job security in the balance, we anticipate an increase in those seeking support from the foodbank. 

“It is thanks to the ongoing support and generosity of companies like Utilita that enables us to provide that much needed support to people within our community.”

Debra Clason, Hub Manager of the Utilita Energy Hub in Leith, commented: “As a Leither, born and bred, I know how proud people are in this community and how they pull together. 

“The fact that so many people have had to go to friends and family for support and rely on the foodbank shows how hard things are for people at the moment. The Utilita Energy Hub in Leith is proud to be able to support the most vulnerable in our community by supporting the foodbank and their sterling work.”

Donations from the ‘Every Penny Feeds’ initiative have gone to:

  • FareShare – The UK’s national network of charitable food redistributors, made up of 18 independent organisations, which takes good quality surplus food from across the food industry and delivers it to almost 11,000 frontline charities and community groups – received £6,000
  • The Felix Project (a member of the FareShare Network) – Delivers fresh, nutritious food that cannot be sold to charities and schools in London so they can provide healthy meals to help the vulnerable – received £2,000
  • Southampton City Mission – A Christian charity which has five foodbanks and two clothes banks in locations throughout the city – received £1,500
  • Friends of the Homeless – Provides short-term practical support to anyone in a crisis or an emergency situation in Fareham and Gosport – received £1,500
  • Edinburgh North East Foodbank – A foodbank run in partnership with local churches in North East Edinburgh – received £1,500  
  • Springwater Community Group – A local community group in Derby which delivers surplus food from supermarkets to people and families who are going through financial difficulties – received £1,500  
  • Isle of Wight Foodbank – Helps those struggling with food poverty and short-term crisis on the Isle of Wight – received £1,500
  • Salma Foodbank – An emergency foodbank that delivers food to the doors of individuals and families in the West Midlands – received £1,500

As a direct response to the Coronavirus pandemic, Utilita – the only energy company created to help households use less energy – introduced measures to reassure and promote a ‘worry-free’ experience for all customers, especially those experiencing hardship or vulnerability.

In 2020 alone, Utilita issued £8.5m in account credits at zero interest for customers facing financial difficulty through its ‘Power Up’ feature in the My Utilita app, or via a customer call. Utilita’s dedicated Extra Care Team has also called every customer aged 80 and over to advise them on all the ways to top-up and stay on supply.

Central to helping people save money is the Utilita Energy High 5 movement, which enables every household to use around £163 less energy each year by making five free and easy-to-follow changes at home.

More than two million households have engaged with the movement so far – every household can benefit – not just Utilita customers, to start saving today.

Find out more: www.utilita.co.uk/energyhigh5

Green light for New Town Quarter development

Plans for the ‘largest and most important brownfield development in Edinburgh city centre for a generation’ were approved by the City of Edinburgh Council yesterday (Wednesday 17th February). 

The development will create 350 new homes and provide 700 new jobs, giving a major economic boost to Edinburgh’s city centre and the Capital’s economy.

The construction phase alone will boost the local economy by more than £27.7 million a year while work is carried out, and the development will further boost the local economy by £35.5m each year once complete. 

Work will begin soon and the New Town Quarter development could be complete as early as 2024.

Ross McNulty, Development Director at Ediston, said: “We have worked very hard to comply with all the relevant policies for such an important site. Our design has been driven by a thorough understanding of the heritage issues associated with being adjacent to Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site, and to open up the area, breathing life and activity into what is currently a redundant brownfield part of the city. 

“We have conducted the largest consultation exercise ever carried out in this local community and, as a result, we have made many changes and improvements based on the feedback we have received.

“New Town Quarter will be one of the best places to live and work in one of the world’s finest cities and will help make Edinburgh’s heart beat even stronger. We are looking forward to turning our vision into a reality.”

A tale of two care homes

Lothians MSP Miles Briggs has expressed concern over infection control measures at an Edinburgh nursing home.

The Care Inspectorate carried out an unannounced virtual inspection of Lorimer House Nursing Home, Lanark Road, on 27 January and followed this up with a visit with Healthcare Improvement Scotland on 5 – 8 February.

They reported ‘significant concerns relating to infection protection.’

Cleaning agents did not meet current best practice guidance and there was inadequate staff access to both PPE stations and clinical waste disposal bins.

Several soiled mattresses and mattress covers were found during the inspection and some dining room furniture was contaminated by food waste.

Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership has been informed of the findings and a follow up inspection to monitor progress will take place.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “The majority of care home residents have received their first vaccination for Covid-19, but it is still vital that infection prevention control measures are strictly followed.

“Care homes have had months to fully implement proper protocols and there is no excuse for not following guidance to the full.

“These concern from the Care Inspectorate must be immediately addressed to ensure the safety of care home residents at Lorimer House Nursing Home.”

Management at Lorimer House say the report does not tell the full story, however, and they fully expect to be exhonerated on appeal.

Sean Black of Lindemann Healthcare, who operate Lorimer House, responded: “The safety and wellbeing of our residents is our highest priority, and Lorimer House has always received the highest standards during inspections.

“We are appealing against the recent rating from the Care Inspectorate, as we were graded at this level because we were using a different cleaning solution to the one specified.

“Lorimer House has a robust cleaning regime which was previously inspected at the NHS Covid assurance visit, and the detergents used in the home are a suitable alternative to bleach-based solutions, which are registered to British safety standards.

“It is unfortunate and disappointing that this information was released before the appeal process was complete. We strongly believe that our appeal will be successful and hope that the corrected rating will be reflective of our consistent high standards.”

No such issues at Northcare Suites Care Home on Telford Road, however; the care home received a glowing report.

Northcare was inspected between 13 -19 January using virtual technology.

Feedback from residents, families and visiting health professionals was very positive, and essential visits at end of life were both encouraged and supported.

Northcare ranked ‘very good’ across the board: in people’s health and wellbeing, infection prevention and control practices and staffing arrangements.

National competition offers £5000 prize to tradespeople hiring an apprentice

 National Apprenticeship Week: One in five tradespeople consider apprentices more important than ever despite Covid-19 decline 

  • Over a fifth of companies that regularly hire apprentices took on fewer in 2020 
  • A quarter of tradespeople and companies plan on hiring new apprentices in 2021 
  • Percentage of female, BAME and apprentices with learning difficulties continues to grow year on year
  • IronmongeryDirect launch competition to win £5,000 towards funding an apprentice 

A third of companies and tradespeople (31%)1 who regularly hire apprentices feel that the programme has been made harder due to the pandemic, as new ONS figures2 show a 30% drop in new construction apprentices between August and October 2020, compared to the same period the previous year. 

Demonstrating the effect of Covid-19 on the scheme, more than one in five (22%) companies that usually hire apprentices took on fewer in 2020, despite a fifth (19%) of tradespeople believing that the program is more important now than ever. 

Commissioned by IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, in the run up to National Apprenticeship Week (8th to 14th February), the study also reveals that one in 12 tradespeople (8%) believe that the government has not done enough to support apprentices throughout the pandemic. 

Looking at the year ahead, the positive news is that a quarter (23%) of businesses and tradespeople plan to bring on apprentices in 2021. Building surveyors (34%) and electricians (28%) are the most likely trades to be looking for apprentices this year, while painter/decorators and landscapers are least likely (15% and 5%, respectively). 

Men in the industry are more likely than women to think that an apprenticeship is a great way for people to learn skills (31% vs 23%). Contrastingly however, it is tradeswomen and female-led companies that are most likely to be looking for an apprentice in the year ahead, with a quarter of women (25%) planning to hire a trainee compared to only one in five tradesmen (20%). 

According to the Office of National Statistics, female apprentices in construction are also on the rise, increasing by 19% in the 2019/20 academic year compared to the previous 12 months.

This represents a much larger trend in growth as there are a huge 333% more female construction trainees than in 2014/2015. So far in the 2020/2021 academic year, the percentage of female new starters has increased to 9%, suggesting that this growth is set to continue. 

The statistics also reveal a changing story for apprentices of colour. While BAME apprentices made up only 6% of new construction apprentices in 2019/2020, this represents a 16% increase to the previous year and an 82% rise since 2014/2015. What’s more, despite the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic, the proportion of BAME trainees continues to grow as they make up 8% of new starters so far this academic year. 

The proportion of new apprentices with learning difficulties is also on the increase, making up 14% of the 2019/2020 intake. This is a 53% increase from 2014/15. This trend seems set to continue as 16% of the 2020/2021 year’s new starters so far have learning difficulties. 

Commenting on the research, Marco Verdonkschot, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, said: “It’s great to see many tradespeople and companies are still looking to make use of the apprenticeship program, despite the difficulty of the past year.  

“We think the apprenticeship scheme is an amazing way to help shape the next generation of tradespeople. That’s why we’ve launched a competition for a UK based tradesperson or company to win £5,000 towards funding an apprentice.”   

“There are so many people who do amazing work in the industry today who started out as apprentices, so it’s important that the program continues to be well-funded. More needs to be done to support apprentices throughout this pandemic to ensure that we continue to have great talent in the future, and we wanted to do our bit to help!” 

To enter the competition or learn more about this research, visit: 

https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/blog/apprenticeships-and-covid-19-looking-ahead-to-2021

Walking proves a tonic to beat lockdown blues

A WALKING charity has encouraged Scots to ease anxieties and boost mental and physical wellbeing by connecting with nature.   

Scotland’s national walking charity, Paths for All, has launched a six-week Walking with Nature campaign to help people enjoy and appreciate the natural environment on their daily walks.

A UK-wide ONS survey1 has found that measures of happiness and life satisfaction are at their lowest levels since the start of the pandemic in March and anxiety scores are at their highest since April 2020, indicating that there are real struggles with mental health right now.

The aim to get more people walking with nature comes after a report published by NatureScot2 found an increased proportion of the population reported health and wellbeing benefits from time spent outdoors connecting with nature during lockdown.

70% indicated their outdoor visits and engagement with nature between August -September helped them to de-stress, relax and unwind which is up from 63% in March to May.

Ian Findlay CBE, Chief Officer at Paths for All, said: “All too often when people go out walking they are still attached to their phone and forget to take in the surroundings that we are graced with in Scotland.

“We hope this campaign will help people unwind and begin to enjoy the small and simple things in life, like spotting a wild animal, hearing a new noise or just generally feeling relaxed when out in the fresh air.”

The online campaign hub will help people understand how to connect and enjoy nature whilst providing a variety of ideas, activities and information designed to motivate everyone to get outdoors.

The charity is also asking people to be kind, by undertaking small acts to protect nature and keep favourite local walks special for everyone. Actions such as moving a branch blocking a path, or saying a friendly ‘hello’ as you pass or step aside for someone, are small things that can make a big difference just now.

Ian added: “60% of people in the NatureScot report found outdoor walks made them feel energised and revitalised which is up from 58% in March to May, and 56% agreed that it improved their physical health -up from 47% in March to May.

“Scots have increased their walking during this unprecedented time and we would encourage everyone to keep it up.

“We believe by encouraging people to walk everyday they will experience many positive physical, social and mental health benefits and in turn we will move forward from this pandemic as a healthier, greener, safer and happier nation”.

It was also highlighted that 54% of respondents agree nature is important to their physical mental wellbeing whilst, 48% became more familiar with local greenspaces since lockdown began.

Caroline Fyfe, NatureScot’s Strategic Paths & Funding Officer, said “Our research has found that more people are visiting the outdoors and engaging with nature so it’s great to see the Walking with Nature campaign encouraging people to build on that connection.

“The simple and fun activities are things we can all do, wherever we live. Tuning into nature while out walking and giving a few minutes of time to improve the local walking environment can make a huge difference, not only to personal mental and physical health but also to local communities. 

“At NatureScot we want to support people to take the next step on their journey to caring for nature and experiencing all the benefits that can bring. For those inspired by Walking with Nature, we’ve lots more tips to help people Make Space for Nature in their lives.”

Paths for All believe regular walking is key to leading a happy and healthy life – and it is important for people to continue enjoying short, local walks where it is safe and appropriate to do so, owing to the huge array of associated benefits.

The charity’s focus is clear: it wants to get Scotland walking: everyone, every day, everywhere.

For more information on Paths for All, visit: https://www.pathsforall.org.uk

BREAKING: Rent freeze for Edinburgh tenants

Edinburgh’s council tenants will be spared a rent rise following a vote at today’s Budget meeting.

Conservative, Green and Lib Dem opposition councillors submitted an emergency motion this morning and have comfortably defeated the city’s Capital Coalition SNP – Labour administration in a key vote on the council’s Housing Revenue Account Budget Strategy.

Hailing the vote as a victory for Edinburgh’s poorest citizens during the pandemic, the Greens said the decision was ‘environmental justice’.

Housing Convener Cllr Kate Campbell responded: “Edinburgh faces huge housing challenges and this £2 million is money we can ill-afford to lose. This decision will have a detrimental impact on low-income familes.

“We are listening to our tenants and that is why we put forward this HRA report. We are doing what they asked us to do.”

More to follow …

Citizens Panel: Scottish Government must set out its Covid-19 strategy

A panel of the public convened by the Scottish Parliament’s Covid-19 Committee has reported its findings to MSPs.

The 19-member panel, which broadly reflects the demographic make-up of Scotland, met over four Saturdays to consider the question ‘What priorities should shape the Scottish Government’s approach to COVID-19 restrictions and strategy in 2021’, hearing from experts to help inform its findings. 

Key conclusions in its report include: 

* The panel believes the Scottish Government should focus on stopping the spread of virus, ideally by pursuing an ‘elimination’ strategy. 

* The panel believes elimination would provide the fastest way back to ‘normal’, but also recognised that this needs maximum cooperation across UK, as well as accepting travel restrictions;

* If this is not possible, the panel recommends a ‘maximum suppression’ strategy should be adopted, with a reinvigorated Test and Protect to keep case numbers low once they have dropped. The panel concluded that by tackling the direct harm of the virus head on, other harms (economic, societal, other health problems) will also reduce;

* Priority should also be given to supporting a green recovery, young people’s economic opportunities, town centres, and continuing support for businesses; 

* The Scottish Government must therefore define what it is aiming to achieve and tell us what its strategy is moving forward. Key to understanding this is what it deems to be an acceptable level of infection in the population, so that it is clear what restrictions will be effective in 2021.

The panel also considered wider issues associated with the pandemic within its deliberations. It agreed:

* Previous lockdowns happened too slowly – resulting in longer lockdowns and more deaths;

* Communication and explaining strategies is key to public acceptance and understanding. This is most effective when scientists and clinicians can take centre stage;

* Globally, no one is safe until everyone is safe.

Members of the panel will give evidence to MSPs on the Covid-19 Committee about their report today (Thursday 18 February).

In the coming weeks, the report will also inform MSPs’ consideration of the possible extension of the emergency Coronavirus legislation, which is currently due to expire at the end of March.

Covid-19 Committee Convener, Donald Cameron MSP, said: “The Committee is very grateful to the members of the public and experts who gave their time to participate in deliberations. 

“The steps taken to counter this virus are so drastic they would have been unimaginable a year ago. It is therefore vital we gauge the public mood as we enter into the next phase of managing the pandemic.

“The considered priorities of this broadly representative group, who have looked at the issue with fresh eyes, will help inform us as we begin to look at the likely extension of the emergency powers, and work to ensure the efforts of Government are focused in the right place.

 “We are looking forward to hearing more from panel members, and testing their conclusions, at our next meeting.”

The panel was announced and first met on 16 January.

The full report and further information on the panel will be online here.

Helping Hermie: Hibernian Community Foundation donate lap desks to support Primary pupils

Pupils at Hermitage Park Primary in Leith are sitting comfortably while learning from home, thanks to Hibernian Community Foundation’s donations of multi-purpose lap desks.

Depute Head Teacher Lisa Black explained: “Hermitage Park Primary is a Hibernian Community Foundation partner school. The foundation is keen to help us remove any barriers to learning our pupils may face.

“When I approached them to share my concern that many of our pupils did not have a desk space for home learning, they were keen to help”.

Lisa was troubled by survey findings from ‘The second wave of the Understanding Society COVID-19 survey’: “I read that over 30% of children lived in homes that did not have enough desk space for them to undertake home learning. This percentage increases to almost 40% for children living in low income households.

“Many of our pupils were working from their bed. Whilst this is not ideal, the lap desks give them a hard surface on which to work. This has benefits for their learning as well as their physical health promoting better posture,” Lisa continued.

“It also tackles the issue of overcrowded homes as pupils can carry their desk to any convenient spot and work at a place which suits them”.

They are already proving a hit with pupils who say their home learning has improved since getting a lap desk:

“My handwriting is better because I have something to lean on” says P6 pupil Brandyn.

“I like the pockets as I can organise myself and that makes me feel less stressed” says Jenna P7.

P7 Abdul’s mum is a fan because he says, “I don’t leave all my work scattered on the floor!”

Lisa concluded: “We appreciate the challenges families face when undertaking home learning.

“This helps us to improve the physical environment for our pupils and we are grateful to Hibernian community foundation for their continued support.”

Ghosts of Budgets past (passed?)

UNISON: ‘Local government is at the point of collapse’

UNISON City of Edinburgh branch, has raised fears about the further budget cuts being presented to the city’s full council meeting today and condemns both the Scottish and UK governments for the continuing underfunding of Local Government. 

Over the past 10 years the council has seen hundreds of millions of pounds slashed from its budget resulting in hundreds of job losses, cuts to services, and the closing of third sector organisations. 

“Local government is at the point of collapse and the Scottish and UK Governments have done very little to prevent its demise while at the same time due to COVID-19 has asked it to do more,” said the union’s branch secretary Tom Connolly. 

“Providing services from the cradle to the grave, local government and the services it provides impact on all citizens. The continuing underfunding can have a serious impact on the effectiveness of the services being provided.” 

UNISON, the biggest union representing workers in Edinburgh council,  says that those employed in local government are fire fighting to keep services running, they feel undervalued and the increasing high levels of stress amongst staff is an example of the negative impact on the health and wellbeing of those staff. 

UNISON’s Plug the Gap campaign https://www.unison-scotland.org/protect-our-council-services/ has called on the government to bridge the £1 billion funding gap in local Government. COSLA has also called for the action to be taken to bridge the Funding Gap. 

“Everyone suffers if Local Government is not provided the funding that it needs to provide meaningful services across our communities,” added Tom Connolly. 

“Staff in local government need to be rewarded and paid well for the jobs that they do, there are many low paid workers in local government providing face to face support to or most vulnerable children and adults, in school, care homes etc.  

“Other council staff keep our public buildings clean, keep our roads clear, clean our streets and empty our bins, administrative and clerical workers dealing with benefits and other essential administrative tasks, all examples of low paid and undervalued workers who have continued to keep the city running.   

“These workers now need to be given the value that they have always deserved and rewarded with decent pay and conditions. Clapping does not pay the bills.”

As the city council’s budget meeting gets underway, some images from budgets past: