People Against Bureaucracy Explained

People Against Bureaucracy (PAB) is a minor political party in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.^[1] The party currently holds one seat on Cheltenham Borough Council: party leader Stan Smith representing the Prestbury ward. They are the only other party represented on the council than the Greens, and the Liberal Democrats.^[2]

The party is affiliated to The Local Government Association Independent Group.^[3]

History

It was founded in 1976 to oppose development on green belt land and reduce council bureaucracy. It aimed to elect councillors to Tewkesbury Borough Council, later representing the same areas at Cheltenham Borough Council following council boundary changes.

In the 2021 Gloucestershire County Council election the party lost its sole seat on Gloucestershire County Council, as it did not run any candidates.^{[4] [5]}

A by-election for the Prestbury ward was held in October 2023, after PAB councillor John Payne resigned.^{[6] [7]} It was won by the party's candidate Stan Smith, although with an 8.5% drop in vote share.^[8]

In the 2024 Cheltenham Borough Council election the party lost one of its two seats on the council, leaving Stan Smith as the party's only elected representative.^{[9] [10]}

Principles

The stated principles of PAB are:

• The elimination of bureaucracy in local governement
• Opposition to party politics in local government
• Making government more open by reducing activities done without press and public oversight
• Opposition to property development on green belt land
• Provide housing, employment and services for local people
• Preservation of the natural environment.^[11]

See also

• Cheltenham Borough Council elections
• Gloucestershire County Council elections

Notes and References

1. Web site: Registration . 21 September 2024 . search.electoralcommission.org.uk.
2. Web site: 2024-09-21 . Your Councillors . 2024-09-21 . democracy.cheltenham.gov.uk . en.
3. Web site: 2023-09-18 . ABOUT PAB . 2024-09-21 . PAB . en-GB.
4. Web site: 2017-05-04 . Election results by party, 4 May 2017 . 2024-09-21 . glostext.gloucestershire.gov.uk . en.
5. Web site: 2021-05-06 . Election results by party, 6 May 2021 . 2024-09-21 . glostext.gloucestershire.gov.uk . en.
6. Web site: Teale . Andrew . 12 October 2023 . Previewing the Cheltenham and Suffolk by-elections of 12th October 2023 . 21 September 2024 . Medium.
7. Web site: Garcia . Carmelo . 2023-10-08 . Voters head to polls this week as candidates contest by-election . 2024-09-21 . Gloucestershire Live . en.
8. Web site: Garcia . Carmelo . 2023-10-15 . People Against Bureaucracy's Stan Smith wins Prestbury by-election . 2024-09-21 . Gloucestershire Live . en.
9. Web site: 2024-05-02 . Election results by party, 2 May 2024 . 2024-09-21 . democracy.cheltenham.gov.uk . en.
10. Web site: 2024-05-03 . Cheltenham Council held by Lib Dems as Tories lose seats . 2024-09-21 . BBC News . en-GB.
11. Web site: Admin . PAB Web . 2023-09-01 . Why support the People Against Bureaucracy Group (PAB) . 2024-09-21 . PAB . en-GB.