Welcome back folks, and the surprise opening gambit for 2018 has been not wargaming stuff as such, but a couple of videos I've done focusing on health issues for wargamers, board gamers, video gamers, writers and, in fact, anyone who spends most of their life sitting on their behind for one reason or another. I'll provide the links to the videos below, but first I want to give a shout-out to my podcasting buddy across the Atlantic, Jay Arnold, who runs The Veteran Wargamers' Podcast.
We're becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle, and as wargamers we spend a lot of time on our backsides, risking weight gain, RSI, back pain, eye strain, blood pressure issues and so on. And I'm more guilty than most – in an average day, I probably spend 90%+ of it at the computer or in front of the TV. I don't work in an office, but I do work in my home studio as a designer, writer and editor, and engage in a lot of social media stuff – almost all of it sitting. I'm overweight (currently around 19 stone – 266lbs or 120.5 kilos), suffer from Type 2 Diabetes and I'm on medication for blood pressure too, so I'm guiltier and more at risk from ghastly things happening to me than most.
Well, I got fed up with this, so before Christmas I started an exercise regimen and I'm going back on the diet that helped me to shed nearly 2 stones (that's 28lbs or about 12.5 kilos) just over a year ago. (If you're interested, the regime I followed was The 8 Week Blood Sugar Diet by Dr Michael Mosley, as featured in his BBC TV series.) Moreover, following the podcast with Jay and some online discussion on Twitter and elsewhere, I decided to stick my neck out, set my embarrassment aside and make an exercise video.
Here it is – it's just over an hour long, but you can watch it in parts, or as one viewer has done, jump to the gentle Qi Gong exercises at 21:00 or the Short Form Tai Chi moves at 50:20, or even the press-ups and other final exercises at 53.57.
Almost immediately after posting this, I received a request to do a shorter video of the Qi Gong exercises on their own, at normal pace. So I produced video number 2, which went online this evening, which you can see below. I performed the exercises quite slowly so that they are easy for a beginner to follow, with some explanation as I went along, but it's only about 16 minutes long. So, if your eyes aren't already bleeding from the first video, watch this!
In tandem with this, I've also become very interested in mental health issues, partly due to my own battles with depression over the last 18 months or so since I left my post at Miniature Wargames in September 2016, followed by the death of my mother in November that year. Stress (mostly through dealing with Probate issues and my mother's estate), a highly irregular income, frustration with lack of progress on some personal projects and some niggling health issues really played havoc with my psychological state, so I (fortunately) realised that it was time I did something about this. I also met Katie Aidley, a highly regarded boardgames blogger (see https://katiesgamecorner.com ) who champions mental health issues in the board game community, and she made me realise that the same is needed in the miniatures gaming community – so perhaps I could help bring this to our hobby's attention.
This has led to me being much more open-minded about possible solutions to my own problems, and just as with my personal weight battle, what I'm discovering might be of interest to other wargamers. So, if you have ideas, suggestions or requests, please do tell me. My intention is to create a series of videos, podcasts, blog and social media posts that will cover wide-ranging issues about mental health in the wargaming community, how we might recognise problems in ourselves and others, and some possible solutions. I've already learned from my association with the Combat Stress charity how beneficial certain aspects of our hobby can be, but we also know that many gamers can feel lonely, isolated and suffer badly from insecurities or 'comparisonitis'.
Under no circumstances whatsoever am I posing as an expert about any of this; in fact, I'm hoping to get some guest bloggers and podcast/vidcast guests who are experts, including doctors and psychologists, who can give informed opinions about these matters. if you happen to be one of those people, please get in touch!
Now, the preceding matters might give you a clue that, having been rather quiet on the wargaming scene since I left MW, I really do want to find my voice again and produce more content. I have a regular column with the lovely folks at Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy, but of course that is only bi-monthly and, as they would be the first to admit, a gig of that kind provides just a bit of pocket money, a long way short of paying the mortgage! Whilst I'm pretty chatty online, I'm having to be more disciplined about what I do, and I simply can't afford to make substantial contributions of my time to wargames writing for free.
As a self-employed creative, I'm in a sphere where income is often perilous at the best of times. I'd love to my a full time living as a writer, but the fact is that even royalties from a relatively successful book like my Wargaming Compendium are a pittance. It's been out for nearly five years now, and I count myself lucky that all in, it's paid me about £4,500 in total. It's been a best-seller in its niche – but it's a very small niche. JK Rowling I am not!
So, in order to make some of the other activities that I would love to engage in more viable, such as maintaining this blog regularly, creating videos and podcasts and so on, I need to make them a source of income. Advertising simply doesn't work in a meaningful way: I tried Google Ads, but the income stream from them was pitiful. I suppose it might be possible to attract advertisers to this site, but that's hit and miss, and you need to generate extremely high traffic to make it a substantial income stream. Only TMP and TWW manage to do that, because they are frequently visited forums, and I would guess that TWW is some way behind TMP in terms of income. A mere blog in our sphere would stand little chance of attracting those numbers.
The answer, it seems to me, is to ask for your support in the form of micro-sponsorship via Patreon. In this model, you agree to take out a modest monthly subscription – it can start as low as the price of a cup of coffee per month. You can choose to either pay a set fee per month, or per item created – so, for example, if you agreed to $2 per item, and I went barmy and cranked out a dozen things that month, you'd be billed for $24. But fear not, given my workload, unless the Patreon route proved incredibly successful, the likelihood is that I would be able to create maybe a couple of things a month maximum – say, a blog post or two and a short podcast or video. I've learned not to over-promise! If at any stage I think it's genuinely possible to increase production, I'll let you know in advance.
As a Patreon supporter, you would gain access to anything I do earlier than everyone else, and there would be a special 'Patreon Club' in which members would gain extra time with me for Q&A's or online chat, and I'd also provide occasional additional content, such as scenarios or artwork or videos. I know that, for example, Neil Shuck's Meeples & Miniatures blog and podcast has managed to attract some income this way to cover his costs, and Katie Aidley has managed to attract significant Patreon support in the board game community. (She also has over 4,000 followers on Twitter, a remarkable achievement in such a short space of time.) You could also let me know if you might be interested in seeing different types of content, such as short or serialised military fiction.
Realistically, I will need to attract sponsorship of at least £100 a month to make it an even remotely viable option for me to set aside time that could be used for design or other copywriting work, but having run a little poll on Twitter (which has been very sobering because of the proportion of nay-sayers it revealed), I think there might just be enough potential support to get the ball rolling. If the income rose to several hundred pounds a month, then I could really start creating some significant work in the wargaming and military history field that I hope you would really enjoy.
The page I am creating on patreon where you will be able to sponsor me.
The image here gives you an idea of how the Patreon page will look – and yes, I'm reviving the Battlegames name both on Patreon and here on the blog. I know that it would be un-economic (sadly) to create a print magazine in the mould of the glossies – tried that, still paying off the debts to prove it! – but I worked hard to create an effective brand, I still own the domain name (you can use battlegames.co.uk to reach this page) and I know it still has a following among many of those who first supported that venture.
So it's at this point that I need your help: what kind of content would you be ready to sponsor? In-depth blog posts? How-to tutorials, perhaps incorporating video? Product and rules reviews? Video or podcast interviews with hobby luminaries? Or perhaps my own opinion/thought pieces, whether on the blog, or solo video or podcast? (Video and audio can be transcribed so that you can read what has been said if you prefer.) Maybe you'd even like to see some fiction in the mix – I've had ideas for stories based in my Wars of the Faltenian Succession, as well as stories set in historical situations (think Sharpe, for example), and epic fantasy too. I'd also like to include some 'pure' military history and archaeology. As an example, Professor Tony Pollard of Glasgow University was involved in the Waterloo dig recently and has plans for a huge wargame recreation of the battle, which would surely make interesting reading and viewing.
So the aim is to provide, if you like, a one-man multimedia magazine, so that I can make wargaming a serious part of my career again. I shan't be commissioning articles from other people, though there may be the occasional guest blogger and of course, I hope to interview the great and the good of the hobby, museums, history and archaeology as and when I can. So please, in the comments below, let me know the kind of thing you'd like to see and, most importantly, would be prepared to fund me to the tune of a coffee or two a month. Without your support, the idea is really a non-starter, so I need to gauge how much effort I can afford to invest in the idea.
And unlike my poll on Twitter, if you're really not interested or think it's a stupid idea, just walk on by – I need to find and address the audience who *will* support this potential venture. Thanks!
Thank you for wading through this monster, wide-ranging post. Your support and feedback means a huge amount to me and, oh, I nearly forgot – happy new year!
Following the tremendous feedback I have received here and elsewhere, I've taken the plunge, and have just launched my Patreon page here. My future as a wargames content provider now rests in your hands.
I'll post something more thoughtful in the next day or so (getting over a virus at the moment). But for now I'll say this: I've enjoyed listening to you on VftV, bought Battlegames magazines, bought the Wargames Compendium, and consider you to be a pillar of the hobby. So now you're asking for help? Okay, count me in.
Thank you Paul, that's very kind. Get well soon!
Might also be worth getting onto M&M and Veteran Wargamer podcasts about this.
Oh, believe me Paul, they not only know about it, they've joined in!
I know they're Patrons. 🙂 I was thinking about you discussing your Patreon plans on their podcasts so that many more people will learn about all of this. I know you were on Jay's recently, but a guest appearance on the M&M one with Neil and Co (it's been a while) wouldn't hurt.
Perhaps Neil's already run this idea past you?
We'll see if we can twist Neil's arm.
I used to enjoy the VFTV podcast on my daily 4 hour commute. Henry's verbous enthusiasm was a great asset. I also listened to the entire "Wargaming Compendium" on Kindle, apparently read by Stephen Hawking.
Likewise, I prefer audio podcasts, except where an actual "how to" is shown by video.
I will happily devour any content related to wargaming, because much of it can be nicked for my own games.
As for exercise, I walk the dog about 4-5 Km each day including a game of football each time. I get a lot of game design done in my head while walking.
Before I had a dog I used to take the "virtual dog" for a walk and explore the local area in a typical solo-wargamer fashion.
Take from a pack of cards the A,2,3s and one joker.
Set out from home. If the first card turned is a red 2 take the second left. If a black Ace take the first right. Get the idea?
When the Joker turns up, go home – if you have any idea how to get there by this time!
This has given me walks of 5 minutes up to over 4 hours.
Thanks Paul. As ever, your input is unique! It never occurred to me that anyone might listen to the Compendium on their Kindle. Ah well, shows there's a potential audience for the audiobook version in due course!
I would be interested in short video or podcast tutorials / how to guides on how to make maps for wargames scenarios, battle-reports or campaigns, these could range from doing simple things with PowerPoint up to show and tell with more advanced software, possible with suggestions on what to buy.
Taking it further you could also do rules tests by running short wargames mini-campaigns (Similar to the ones offered in rules like Dawn's & Departures, Peter Pig, Two Hour Wargames or that one called Shot, Steel and Stone…..) and seeing how rules sets play out or can be compared over several battles.
Emphasis could be on whatever is popular in wargames at present (currently skirmish level). These could even fit into your own overarching imagi-nation campaigns or rif off themes from your up-coming campaign book.
Such mini campaigns might even lead to 'characters', 'events' appearing out of the wargames that viewers might be interested in following, reading short stories about, or creating scenario PDFs for. You could also suggesting 'choose your own' adventure options for the campaign for via twitter polls votes etc.
Thanks for that great feedback Tim, some terrific suggestions in there. I like the mini-campaigns idea, very interesting.
Yes to podcasts (I enjoyed the View from The Veranda tremendously during my painting sessions or while in the car), no to videos (you can't do anything else while watching a video, but you can while listening to audio).
I also always enjoyed your articles in BG and MWBG. I think you had a good style and sense for content, focusing on discussing the principles and foundations of wargaming, and not so much on any particular commercial system on the market at that very moment. E.g. a scenario should be generic with interesting challenges and explanations why the scenario is interesting, then players can adapt it to their rules system of choice (as opposed to a scenario designed so specifically for an existing rule system such that it becomes useless for anyone else).
W.r.t. physical exercise: Perhaps this is stating the obvious, but why do people not simply go outside for a walk? I walk my dog for a few kilometers every day, and it's amazing how much creative thinking you can do during that time!
Thanks for stopping by Phil, great to see you here. Interesting point about videos versus podcasts! Some of the videos would, in fact, be taken from Skype interviews, so I hope to be able to extract the soundtrack to be used as a podcast, but people are welcome to watch the chat if they prefer – I've seen this done many times by my podcasting heroes in other spheres of interest. Some of the videos will, however, inevitably be very visual in format, such as painting and modelling tips, but there should be enough of a mix to make it worthwhile for you.
Your central paragraph about the scenarios etc is bang on target for what I have in mind. I may occasionally review certain specific rulesets, including 'old school' ones, but scenarios and the like will always be ruleset-independent.
Exercise: walking is indeed great exercise, and I intend to be doing a great deal of it – you'll see! I also agree that it can be excellent for creative thinking – or, conversely, for completely clearing the mind, which can often be even more beneficial. But people's reluctance to do so can also be linked to mental health issues such as agoraphobia and self-consciousness about the way they look (or think they look, which is even more powerful). Getting people to do something at home or work that may only take a few minutes and can be done in private is, I think, the right place to start.
I am happy to sponsor & consume your output, as I always find it thoroughly fun and enjoyable. I am open on content, although I have a tendency towards miniature wargaming and your imagination material. That said, I am very flexible and have an eclectic mind that enjoys the full spectra from academic discourse to whimsy.
I have never understood why people feel aggrieved for having to pay for others time & creativity. I am lucky enough to be able to cover a few cups of coffee per article, so will sign up once you are live.
I suspected your relative silence was linked to a dark night of the mind. I am very pleased to see that the sun is rising again, and may 2018 see the dawn turn into a bright sunny day.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback, James, and for your kind best wishes. The kind of content you mention will certainly be front and centre of my activities.
Just a quick thanks for being open and honest regarding mental health. I have struggled recently myself and feel encouraged to know I am not alone.
As for Patreon I would like to support and I would like to see just what you and others are thinking. I would also like some more 2d terrain and maybe even some paper armies, if possible?
Thanksfor the feedback and ideas, Kev, though sorry to hear that you too have been having a tough time. 2d terrain and paper armies are certainly options tha, in fact, are already on my 'to do' list.
Glad to see the BG name will rise again, Henry. Most interested in things relating to miniature wargaming in its various guises leaning toward the old school side of things by not exclusively. Text and podcast strike me as most appealing, but I wouldn't rule out an occasional video either. And of course I would be happy to donate a few bucks a month for the pleasure of reading/hearing what's on your mind.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Stokes. Your opinion ishighly valued and I'm pretty certain that you'll find me posting plenty of interest.
Coffee costs 20p a cup, right?
My body is a temple so I flatly refuse to go anywhere near the videos (yet), but count me in with the Patreon.
I don't know what to expect or how your enterprise will fit with my lifestyle so I'm somewhat reticent to put any restrictions on the content. I'm very happy to leave my entertainment/education in your very capable hands. If I don't like something I can let you know. Nicely, of course.
One thing I will say though. My attention span doesn't cope with anything that takes more than half an hour to digest. I'm happy with a couple of sittings but pod casts, for example, which go on at length on a single subject don't tend to get a look in.
I wish you all the best with this rather exciting venture. I'm a big fan of your writing so feel free to bung anything in my direction….of a hobby nature, obviously.
Thanks for your input, Iain. that's interesting about the attention span thing. There seem to be two camps: one, in which there are people who like something of a fixed length of 30-60 minutes maximum, like a 'proper' TV or radio programme; and the others, who perhaps listen to podcasts whilst painting or doing boring jobs, who seem to enjoy the longer, rambling stuff of 90 minutes or more (though I'd be the first to admit that some of my epic shows with neil Shuck would test the endurance of even the toughest). So, you'll be relieved to hear that I plan to make my stuff generally 30-60 minutes – it would have to be something special to go over that, because of the sheer effort of editing etc.
Well then, that sounds ideal.
Hi Henry, I'll keep it shortish and simple. I'd willing support any and all hobby content you'd produce. Everything from expositions on specific historical periods through to how to write for the hobby market would be of interest. My range of curiosty, and your range of knowledge, is broad enough that I'd welcome it all and be willing to make a contribution towards it.
The key for me is that the content be regular at a rate, say, of two fully developed items a month published on a centralized source. Currently, if I want to stay abreast of your content I need to look across multiple platforms and various sites.
Stay well and all the best this coming year. Thanks for looking out for the health and wealth of our hobby and those that are involved in it.
Thank you Sean, really great feedback. I completely agree about centralising my activity and in fact that's one of the key factors in making this viable. I would post everything here, in essence (though it will be broadcast to Patreon sponsors first) and then links to the content will appear on the FB page and Twitter.
Thank you Chris, that's tremendously useful feedback.
Happy to help for a coffee a month.
Anything you produce is worth at least that. Tje real losers are the magazines who are now struggling without your hand on the tiller.
Thanks Melvyn, I really appreciate your comments.
I can't find the Patreon page? Isn't it live yet?
It's not live just yet Alan – if decent levels of support looks likely, I'll launch the page over the weekend and announce it here and via other media.
Very interesting and informative article. I have watched your second video. I have been meaning to give Qi Gong and Tai Chi a try for some time, so this has motivated me to have a go and follow along with your video. Thanks. I will support your Patreon page and look forward to seeing your future output. All the best Henry.
Thanks Alan, I appreciate you stopping by and I'm thrilled you're having a go at the Qi Gong!
Since you have asked for feedback and ideas, I will do my best. What I would be most interested in backing you is for gaming stuff since that is why I read you now. If you want to post fiction and history, I'll give it a read since you are a good writer: but it would have to be very good for me to regularly back anyone as a fiction writer.
For potential gaming content, I think the strongest pieces you have done are your how-to guides: I am thinking of your photography guide, your maps for scenarios guide, your digital media guide and your painting and terrain-making guides. Your scenarios in their own right are good too, but perhaps one of your niches is in showing the rest of us how to leverage new hardware and software to improve our research, blogs, articles and games and so on.
Otherwise, although I know that you don't spend all your time playing refights of Blasthof Bridge with Spenser Smiths using the Charge! rules, I suppose that you are one of the highest-profile wargamers who does play this stuff. So maybe there is some interesting content to be made out of looking at these older rules and scenarios with a more objective eye: how do they stack up today? What are the valid criticisms that can be made? Were they dead-ends in design or are they waiting for a genuine revival? Were there some things done better back in the day that have now been forgotten. And so on. I mention this because so much of the OSW content I've seen either focus on the nostalgia of the project or the aesthetic or both. I want to know about the games.
Lastly, you are obviously in high demand as a podcaster with Neil and Jay and Jonathan; and Neil has proved that people are willing to support that financially. So perhaps more podcasting could feature in the same approximate "View from the Veranda" format but with a wider range of co-hosts with you, to discuss the 'big issues' in wargaming and game design more generally. People did seem to like that format of long episode, wide-ranging discussion. Would discussions on game design between you and Mike Siggins be a good podcast? Or on project design with Steve Jones? Or scenario writing with you and Arthur Harman? And so on.
And lastly, since you are interested in cartography, one thing I think that we are definitely missing is good modern mapping of historical periods and situations. In books on the Norman Conquest, the Wars of the Roses or the Great Italian Wars (or whatever) there is usually only a basic B&W line map. But perhaps there is some interest out there in better maps for this type of stuff (like Osprey mapping or Nick Lipscombe's Peninsular War mapping)?
Anyway, best of luck, and every success to you. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
Thanks for that incredibly detailed response, John. That really useful feedback and gives me a great deal of food nfor thought. I would certainly be covering some, if not all, of what you suggest. The mapping thing is really interesting and the clinical assessment of rulesets – ols school or otherwise – will certainly be on the menu. And I'll certainly want to interview lots of people about their special skills.
I'll pledge a couple of dollars.
Oh, and of course and I will happy to support via Patreon.
Thanks Steve, that's great. I'll be launching and formally announcing the page over the weekend.
I would love more how to videos based around a specific theme, depending of course on what is on the painting/modelling/gaming table at the time. I don't know maybe a monthly focus on a particular aspect, or a 'long build' type of video series. The issue there being is finding the right subject to attract and keep the attention of enough people, as we gamers are a pretty disparate bunch.
Video and audio content is the ideal format for me but then again it is the most time consuming to produce.
Thank you Steve. Solo video/audio isn't too bad, as long as there isn't too much coughing and spluttering to edit, and things like Skype have made interviews a whole lot easier. We'll see!


text:
https://www.timesunion.com/newrestaurants/article/Druthers-head-chef-wife-opening-own-place-in-14085775.php
Druthers head chef, wife opening own place in Saratoga
By Steve Barnes
Published 2:28 pm EDT, Wednesday, July 10, 2019
17 Division St. in Saratoga Springs, future home of the restaurant Seneca.
Photo: Google Maps
Image 1 of / 114
Mike and Michelle Spain, who worked together at the Saratoga Springs original location of Druthers Brewing, where Mike was the executive chef, are getting ready to open a restaurant of their own that will feature food cooked on a wood grill and in a wood-fired oven.
Called Seneca, the restaurant is located at 17 Division St., half a block west of Broadway. The building previously was home to an insurance company. Mike Spain tells me the couple spent six months renovating it.
An opening on or around July 24 is projected, Spain says.
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Seneca's menu will features a snacks/vegetables section that will feature simply cooked/prepared local produce, appetizers, and entrees featuring a variety of land and sea proteins. Cooking will be done over an 8-foot grill over burning oak and hickory, and in the wood-fired oven, which will also be used for bread baking, Spain says. The restaurant will have eight wine taps — four white, four red — plus four beer taps and a selection of spirits. Seating for 55, plus 10 more at the bar. Projected days and hours are from 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday.
News of the restaurant was first reported by Saratoga Business Journal. Michelle Spain told the paper that Seneca was a name Mike's mother had once considered if she had given birth to a second daughter.
Talk about this story on Table Hopping, and continue viewing the slideshow to see other recent developments in the Capital Region's dining scene.

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Borrowing (Public sector net borrowing excluding public sector banks) in September 2018 was £4.1 billion, £0.8 billion less than in September 2017; this was the lowest September borrowing for 11 years (since 2007).
Borrowing in the current financial year-to-date (YTD) was £19.9 billion: £10.7 billion less than in the same period in 2017; the lowest year-to-date for 16 years (since 2002).
Borrowing in the financial year ending (FYE) March 2018 was £39.8 billion: £5.7 billion less than in FYE March 2017; the lowest financial year for 11 years (since FYE 2007).
This month we have introduced improvements to our treatment of Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds data; although public sector borrowing-neutral, VAT receipts have increased by £1.8 billion in the current financial YTD and £3.3 billion in FYE March 2018, with corresponding and offsetting increases in expenditure in those periods.
Debt (Public sector net debt excluding public sector banks) at the end of September 2018 was £1,789.5 billion (or 84.3% of gross domestic product (GDP)); an increase of £3.4 billion (or a decrease of 2.4 percentage points) on September 2017.
Debt at the end of September 2018 excluding Bank of England (mainly quantitative easing) was £1,599.4 billion (or 75.3% of GDP); a decrease of £38.0 billion (or a decrease of 4.2 percentage points) on September 2017.
On 28 September 2018, we announced the reclassification of housing associations in Scotland from the public to the private sector; reducing debt at the end of September 2018 by £3.4 billion.
Central government net cash requirement in the current financial YTD was £19.8 billion (£5.1 billion less than financial YTD 2017) or £20.5 billion excluding both UK Asset Resolution Ltd and Network Rail (£5.1 billion less than in financial YTD 2017).
VAT refunds provide an estimate of the amount of VAT claimed back by local authorities and central government departments; with the intention of recording the sales of services consumed by government on an equivalent basis, whether they are provided by government or by the private sector.
This work has highlighted opportunities to improve our recording of the VAT refunds associated with the National Health Service, Academies, the BBC and Police Commissioners. Table 1 summarises the impact of these improvements on both the central and local government sectors. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
1. CG - Central government.
2. LG - Local government.
3. PS - Public sector.
This month, we have introduced these improvements to our recording of VAT refunds data for financial year ending (FYE) March 2018 and FYE March 2019. We are currently compiling improved VAT refunds data for periods prior to FYE March 2018 and these will be reflected in our data in parallel with their implementation in the national accounts. Until then, there will be a temporary discontinuity in those time series highlighted in Table 1.
Following passage of the Housing (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2018 and The Regulation of Social Housing (Influence of Local Authorities) (Scotland) Regulations 2018, we have completed an assessment of the registered social landlords (RSLs) in Scotland, which are often described as housing associations.
We have concluded that the RSLs in Scotland are private sector market producers and as such they should be reclassified to the private non-financial corporations sub-sector. This classification applies from 19 September 2018, the effective date of the legislation.
As a result of this reclassification, public sector net debt reduced by £3.4 billion at the end of September 2018 and public sector net borrowing will reduce by around £0.2 billion per financial year.
Only housing associations in Northern Ireland now remain classified within the public sector. The Department for Communities Northern Ireland launched a consultation on the future of House Sales Schemes in Northern Ireland, running between 3 July and 24 September 2018. We will review the classification of housing associations in Northern Ireland at an appropriate time based on the outcomes of this consultation.
This month we have incorporated the latest estimates of GDP (published on 28 September 2018). As a result of including these data, our estimates of statistics (such as debt) expressed as a ratio of GDP have been revised for the period January 2017 to date.
On 26 September 2018, the government confirmed that it will publish its next Budget on Monday 29 October 2018.
The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), responsible for the production of official forecasts for government, will publish updated forecasts for debt and borrowing, on which Budget 2018 is based, on 29 October 2018.
The OBR forecasts used in this bulletin are currently those published on 13 March 2018. Our next bulletin, to be published on 21 November 2018 will refer to the Budget 2018 forecasts.
In September 2018, the public sector spent more money than it received in taxes and other income. This meant it had to borrow £4.1 billion; that is, £0.8 billion less than the same period in September 2017. This is the lowest September net borrowing for 11 years.
Receipts in September 2018 increased by 3.2% compared with September 2017, to £56.4 billion, while total expenditure increased by 2.8% to £59.4 billion.
Much of the annual growth in receipts came from Value Added Tax (VAT), Income Tax and National Insurance contributions, while other taxes such as duties on both tobacco and Stamp Duty (on land and properties) have fallen marginally on September 2017.
This month, much of the increase in spending was in the current account, with notable growth in both the expenditure on goods and services as well as net social benefits. Over the same period, interest payments on the government's outstanding debt have fallen; due largely to movements in the Retail Prices Index to which index-linked bonds are pegged.
In addition to the increase in current spending, increases in gross capital formation and capital transfers to the private sector were important factors in the year-on-year growth in the capital account.
Figure 1 summarises public sector borrowing by sub-sector in September 2018 and compares this with the equivalent measures in the same month a year earlier (September 2017). This presentation splits public sector net borrowing excluding public sector banks (PSNB ex) into each of its four sub-sectors: central government, local government, public corporations and Bank of England.
While local government data for September 2018 are based on budget forecasts for England, Wales and Scotland, public corporations data remain initial estimates, with most components calculated by Office for National Statistics (ONS) based on Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasts. In both cases, additional administrative source data are used to estimate transfers to each of these sectors from central government.
PCNB Non-financial public corporations net borrowing.
In the financial year-to-date (YTD) (April to September 2018), public sector spending exceeded the money that it received in taxes and other income. This meant it had to borrow £19.9 billion; that is, £10.7 billion less than the same period in 2017. Borrowing so far this financial year was the lowest for any April to September period for 16 years.
Of this £19.9 billion borrowed by the public sector in this period, £5.5 billion related to the cost of the "day-to-day" activities of the public sector (the current budget deficit), while £14.4 billion was capital spending (or net investment), such as on infrastructure.
Figure 2 presents both monthly and cumulative public sector net borrowing (excluding public sector banks) in the current financial YTD (April to September 2018) and compares these with the previous financial year.
OBR forecast for public sector net borrowing excluding public sector banks from March 2018 Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO).
Figure 3 summarises the contributions of each sub-sector to public sector net borrowing (excluding public sector banks) in the current financial YTD (April to September 2018) and compares these with the same period in the previous financial year.
The difference between central government's income and spending makes the largest contribution to the amount borrowed by the public sector. In the latest financial YTD (April to September 2018), of the £19.9 billion borrowed by the public sector, £24.9 billion was borrowed by central government, while local government was in surplus by £4.9 billion.
In the current financial YTD, central government received £352.4 billion in income, including £265.6 billion in taxes. This was around 4% more than in the same period in 2017.
Over the same period, central government spent £368.0 billion, around 2% more than in the same period in 2017. Of this amount, just below two-thirds was spent by central government departments (such as health, education and defence), around one-third on social benefits (such as pensions, unemployment payments, Child Benefit and Maternity Pay), with the remaining being spent on capital investment and interest on government's outstanding debt.
In the latest full financial year (April 2017 to March 2018), the £39.8 billion (or 1.9% of gross domestic product (GDP)) borrowed by the public sector was around one-quarter of PSNB ex in the FYE March 2010, when borrowing was £153.1 billion (or 9.9% of GDP).
Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) full financial year forecast of £37.1 billion for public sector net borrowing excluding public sector banks (March 2018 Economic and Fiscal Outlook).
At the end of September 2018, the amount of money owed by the public sector to the private sector stood at around £1.8 trillion (Figure 5), which equates to 84.3% of the value of all the goods and services currently produced by the UK economy in a year (or gross domestic product (GDP)).
Since September 2017, the net debt associated with the Bank of England (BoE) increased by £41.4 billion to £190.1 billion. Nearly all of this growth was due to the activities of the Asset Purchase Facility Fund, of which the TFS is a part.
The TFS closed for drawdowns of further loans on 28 February 2018 with a loan liability of £127.0 billion. The TFS loan liability at the end of September 2018 was £126.4 billion.
If we were to exclude the activities of the BoE in the estimation of public sector net debt (excluding public sector banks), it would reduce by £190.1 billion, from £1,789.5 billion to £1,599.4 billion, or from 84.3% of GDP to 75.3%.
Figure 6 breaks down outstanding public sector net debt at the end of September 2018 into the sub-sectors of the public sector. In addition to public sector net debt excluding public sector banks (PSND ex), this presentation includes the effect of public sector banks on debt.
Figure 7 incorporates the borrowing components detailed in Figure 2 to illustrate how the differences between income and spending (both current and capital) have led to the accumulation of debt in the current financial year-to-date (April to September 2018).
Revisions can be the result of both updated data sources and methodology changes. This month, we have introduced improvements to our recording of Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds for the financial year ending March 2018 and the current financial year-to-date, for the first time. While this change is borrowing-neutral, in the periods affected there are resulting increases in accrued VAT receipts along with equal but offsetting increases in government expenditure, mainly on goods and services. Revisions to net borrowing are as a result of updated data sources only.
It is important to note that revisions do not occur as a result of errors; errors lead to corrections and are identified as such when they occur. This month we have no errors to report.
Table 2 presents the revisions to the headline statistics presented in this bulletin compared with those presented in the previous publication (published on 21 September 2018).
10. 2018/19 YTD refers to the current financial year-to-date (April to August 2018).
Public sector net borrowing excluding public sector banks (PSNB ex) has been revised down by £2.0 billion compared with figures presented in the previous bulletin (published on 21 September 2018). Of this £2.0 billion, £1.8 billion was due to updated central government data.
Previous estimates of central government receipts increased by £3.2 billion; due largely to a £1.9 billion increase in previous estimates of VAT. Of this £1.9 billion, £1.8 billion was due to improvements in our recording of VAT refunds, which are public sector borrowing neutral; being offset by a corresponding increase in expenditure mainly on goods and services.
In addition to the reported increase in VAT receipts, estimates of Income Tax and tobacco duties increased by £1.2 billion and £0.4 billion respectively, while National Insurance contributions reduced by £0.8 billion.
Over the same period, estimates for central government current expenditure increased by £1.5 billion; due largely to the increases in expenditure on goods and services associated with the improvements in the recording of VAT refunds.
While the previously published estimate of public sector net borrowing excluding public sector banks (PSNB ex) in the financial year ending March 2018 has only been revised downwards by £0.1 billion, improvements to the recording of VAT refunds introduced this month have resulted in a £3.3 billion increase in VAT receipts. This increase in receipts was almost entirely offset by a corresponding increase to government expenditure.
This month we have incorporated the latest estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) (published on 28 September 2018). As a result of including these improved data, our estimates of public sector net debt statistics expressed as a ratio of GDP have been revised for the period March 2017 to date.
Can you please add the following heading and paragraph at the end of section 6.
This month we have improved the monthly profile calculations applied to data used in the compilation of public sector net financial liabilities statistics, as presented in Table PSNFL 3. This improvement to the monthly profile leads to revisions in the inter-quarter months, however, there are no revisions to the quarterly data. Taking Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2018 as an example, the profile revises in the months January and February but remain unchanged in March. Therefore Tables PSNFL 1 and PSNFL 2 are unaffected as these are presented on a quarterly basis only. These improvements have led to monthly revisions in the financial transactions, other accounts payable / receivable (AF.8), loan assets (AF.4) and equity assets (AF.5) back to April 2000.
The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for the production of official forecasts for government. These forecasts are usually produced twice a year (currently in March and November).
OBR forecasts used in this bulletin are based on those published on 13 March 2018.
Table 3 compares the current outturn estimates for each of our main public sector (excluding public sector banks) aggregates for the latest full financial year with corresponding OBR forecasts for the following financial year. Further, it compares the current financial year-to-date (April to September 2018) outturn estimates with those of the previous financial year.
9. All OBR figures are from the OBR Economic and Fiscal Outlook published in March 2018.
The UK general government debt and deficit data we published on 19 October 2018 will be published by Eurostat on 22 October 2018 in context with the other 27 EU member states.
In recent years, planned expenditure initially reported in local authority budgets has systematically been higher than the final outturn expenditure reported in the audited accounts. We therefore include adjustments to reduce the amounts reported at the budget stage. Our adjustments for the whole financial year ending (FYE) March 2019 are £1.0 billion for current expenditure on goods and services and £0.7 billion for capital expenditure.
The £1.0 billion adjustment for current expenditure on goods and services applies to England only. The £0.7 billion adjustment for capital expenditure comprises £0.5 billion for Scotland and £0.2 billion for Wales. No adjustment is made for England capital expenditure because similar adjustments were already applied in the published England local authority budget data.
Any additional revenue identified and recorded by the inclusion of such payments will increase central government receipts and so reduce public sector net borrowing.
Based on our ongoing investigation, we expect borrowing to reduce by around £0.7 billion in the financial year ending (FYE) March 2018 due to this revenue increase. We will introduce these changes at the earliest opportunity.
Any revisions to fines and penalties data for periods prior to FYE March 2018 will be implemented at a future point once further investigations are concluded.
On 31 August 2018, our consultation concerning the treatment of pensions within the public sector finances closed. We are currently considering the feedback we received and plan to publish a response at the end of November 2018.
On 11 September 2018, Network Rail announced they had agreed terms for the sale of its Commercial Estate business in England and Wales, the majority of the properties in which are railway arches. We are currently investigating the nature of the transaction in order to ensure that the impacts will be fully reflected in the public sector finances.
On 21 June 2018, the government published a new Memorandum of Understanding between HM Treasury and the Bank of England (BoE), which sets out the financial relationship between the two institutions.
This memorandum announced that during the current financial year (April 2018 to March 2019), the £127 billion liabilities of the Term Funding Scheme (TFS ) (PDF, 1.4MB) will be transferred from the Bank of England Asset Purchase Facility Fund (APF) to the BoE's own balance sheet and that the HM Treasury indemnity for it was being removed.
TFS was introduced in 2016, as a quantitative easing measure under the APF umbrella, to enable financial institutions to cut the time in passing on interest rate reductions to consumers and businesses.
Further, to enable the BoE to take TFS on balance sheet without an indemnity from the Treasury, a capital injection of £1.2 billion from HM Treasury to the BoE has been announced. The nature of the capital injection will be formally discussed at a classifications meeting and announced in due course.
On 8 December 2017, the government published a joint report on progress during phase 1 of negotiations between the European Union and the UK (PDF, 383KB), under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) on the UK's orderly withdrawal from the EU.
Although the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) discusses the EU settlement in Annex B (PDF, 2.5MB) of their Economic and Fiscal Outlook - March 2018, the details in the report are still subject to negotiation and so there is insufficient certainty at this stage for us to complete a formal assessment of impact on the UK public sector finances.
Following Carillion Plc declaring insolvency on 15 January 2018, the UK government announced that it will provide the necessary funding required by the Official Receiver, to ensure continuity of public services through an orderly liquidation. The Official Receiver has been appointed by the court as liquidator, along with partners at PwC that have been appointed Special Managers. The defined benefit pension schemes of former Carillion employees are currently being assessed by the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) prior to any transition into the PPF scheme.
We are currently investigating the various impacts of the liquidation of Carillion on the public sector finances, including in relation to the public-private partnership projects in which Carillion was involved and the additional funding that the government has provided in order to maintain public services. We will announce our findings in due course.


text:
Huanting Wang
EmailHuanting.Wang@monash.edu
15 Conference Paper
Chapter (Book)
Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and MOF-derived porous carbon materials for sustainable adsorptive wastewater treatment
Abbasi, Z., Cseri, L., Zhang, X., Ladewig, B. P. & Wang, H., 2020, Sustainable Nanoscale Engineering: From Materials Design to Chemical Processing. Szekely, G. & Livingston, A. (eds.). 1st ed. Amsterdam Netherlands: Elsevier, p. 163-194 32 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Other › peer-review
Thermo-responsive membranes with switchable superhydrophilicity and superhydrophobicity for oil-water separation
Ou, R., Simon, G. P. & Wang, H., 2019, Smart Membranes. Chu, L-Y. (ed.). London UK: The Royal Society of Chemistry, p. 362-388 27 p. (Smart Materials; vol. 35).
Materials and design of photocatalytic membranes
Chen, X., Hu, Y., Xie, Z. & Wang, H., 2018, Current Trends and Future Developments on (Bio-) Membranes: Photocatalytic Membranes and Photocatalytic Membrane Reactors. Basile, A., Mozia, S. & Molinari, R. (eds.). Amsterdam Netherlands: Academic Press, p. 71-96 26 p.
Polymer hydrogels as smart draw agents in forward osmosis processes
Razmjou, A., Simon, G. P. & Wang, H., 1 Jan 2015, Forward Osmosis: Fundamentals and Applications. Shon, H. K., Phuntsho, S., Zhang, T. C. & Surampalli, R. Y. (eds.). 1 ed. Reston VA USA: American Society of Civil Engineers, p. 129-150 21 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
Thin film nanocomposite membranes for water desalination
Li, D. & Wang, H., 2013, Functional Nanostructured Materials and Membranes for Water Treatment. Duke, M., Zhao, D. & Semiat, R. (eds.). Germany: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, p. 163 - 194 32 p.
Thin films and membranes with hierarchical porosity
Li, D., Yao, J. & Wang, H., 2013, Encyclopedia of Membrane Science and Technology. Hoek, E. M. V. & Tarabara, V. V. (eds.). USA: Wiley-Blackwell, p. 431 - 459 29 p.
Preparation of silicalite-1 microtube arrays supported on cordierite honeycomb by using palm fibers as templates
Liu, W., Zhang, L., Wang, H. & Xu, N., 1 Jan 2007, From Zeolites to Porous MOF Materials - The 40th Anniversary of International Zeolite Conference. A ed. Elsevier, p. 408-413 6 p. (Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis; vol. 170, no. A).
Contact Huanting Wang


text:
INAUGURATION OF TAURUS SAINIK ARAMGRAH
New Delhi 26 August.Lt Gen Nav K Khanduri, AVSM, VSM, GOC-in-C, Western Command inaugurated the Taurus Sainik Aramgrah at Delhi Cantt on 25 Auguest. The facility is first of its kind as it is constructed by Indian Army in collaboration with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) as an Equal Value Infrastructure Project. The officials of DMRC were also present for the event.
This 148 bed state of the art facility has an aesthetically designed waiting lounge, in-house dining, a green area and ample parking. The facility is constructed primarily to ensure comfortable stay of serving/retired defence personnel including their dependents who come to Delhi for their medical treatment. The facility reiterates commitment of Indian Army towards its serving/retired soldiers and their families in line with the service ethos of Share & Care.