Local Government news from Cllr Rex Whittaker, April 2026

AROUND TOWN

April has brought us some lovely sunny weather which has started to dry out our winter-saturated outdoors. With Spring in full flow we can get out and enjoy the blossoms and the carpet of wonderful bluebells in many woodland and wild verge areas.

It is also traditionally a very busy month for the first of our annual town charity and community events. The inaugural Rotary Club colour run was hosted by East Grinstead Sports Club and 26 April sees the High Street vintage bus day, as well as the East Grinstead Rugby Club Sunshine Sevens Charity tournament, now in its 68th year.

Saturday 2 May is the Mid Sussex Marathon (back at the EG Rugby Club) and Bank Holiday Monday, 4 May is the traditional Lions Charity May Fair in the High Street, which will have a street closure from 7am to 6pm.

COUNCILS AND BUSINESS NEWS

Early April traditionally marks the end of the tax year and start of another Government and our local councils’ civic and financial year. With new council tax and business rate demand paperwork being delivered through our letterboxes you may like to take a look at an explanation of business rate changes on the EGBA website.

Our three main councils have increased these rates by 3-6%. Whilst this is still annoyingly over current inflation level, many other councils across the country are witnessing high single figure or double digit increases. Additionally many of these councils are slashing services in order to try and reduce costs. Central Government funding reductions over the past five years and more have seen many councils pile up their debts to unsustainable levels.

With the West Sussex County Council elections in process (7 May is Election Day) business at all our three local councils is relatively quiet. However in May all the annual council meetings are held to re-constitute mayors, chairs and governance councillor committees.

Central Government continues to be very active in progressing and enacting new legislation. I have previously commented on the transformational Planning & Infrastructure Bill which significantly changes the speed of the planning application process with the emphasis on the granting of permissions to fuel the economic growth agenda.

However a more major change for all of our businesses (of whatever size) is the activation of phase one of the Employment Rights Act 2025. This received Royal Assent in December 2025, but will be systematically rolled out in phases between April 2026 and 2028.

This is a key pillar of the Government’s plan to ‘make work pay’, aimed at growing the economy, boosting wages and reducing insecure work.

There are a host of significant changes for employers and employees alike affecting :

• Zero hours contracts
• Fire and re-hire
• Unfair dismissal
• Collective redundancy rights
• Statutory sick pay
• Fair pay agreements
• Tipping law
• Paternity & parental leave
• Bereavement leave
• Flexible working
• Whistleblowers and non-disclosure agreements
• Trade union legislation

And includes establishing a Fair Work Agency, widening Employment Tribunal timescale and tightening the regulations regarding ‘umbrella companies’ in group structures.

All employers are advised to research this new legislation in detail and seek specialist advice about the scope and nature of these fundamental changes to their business structure and forward plans.

Rex Whittaker
20 April 2026