Planning Committee

The Planning Committee met on 1 October 2025 to consider a schedule of planning applications, including a battery storage proposal at Uskmouth Power Station, and a report on recent planning appeal decisions. The minute says decisions will be recorded as shown in an appendix, but the appendix supplied is dated 3 September, so the outcome of each application cannot be confirmed from these papers.

1. Planning applications schedule

   Decided

   The minute says decisions will be recorded as shown on the planning applications schedule in Appendix A. It also authorises the Planning and Development Manager to draft any amendments to, or additional conditions for, the applications.

   Why

   Application 25/0407 would remove stored pulverised fuel ash (PFA) from the site and install a battery energy storage system (BESS), with drainage and utility connections. The council's Principal Heritage Officer found no listed buildings or conservation areas nearby. The site must also be checked under a Habitats Regulations Assessment, which tests whether a project could harm protected wildlife sites.

   Based on the minutes, Development Management: Planning Application Schedule, Late Representations-25/0407

2. Recent planning appeal decisions

   Decided

   The minute records that members' attention was drawn to the appeals report for information. No decision is recorded.

   Why

   The report is a record of recent appeals to help inform future decisions. It covers 133 Stow Hill, where a change to a five-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO, a home shared by several households) was refused; Silver Birches, Penhow, where a double garage with a study above was refused; and land north of Rock Cottage, Arcade Road, Penhow, where a conversion to a home with stables and a bat house was refused. In each case the appeal was dismissed, so the council's refusal stands, and at 133 Stow Hill a request for costs was also refused.

   Based on the minutes, Appeal Agenda October 2025

Written by AI from the council's minutes and reports. Sentences with a number or name that can't be found in those papers are removed automatically, but mistakes are still possible. Councils publish no word-for-word record of meetings, so this says what was decided and why. Read the official papers to be sure.

1. Apologies

   Minute

   Councillors: G Horton,M Howells,W Routley,M Pimm and M Linton

2. 2

   Declarations of Interest

   Minute

   None.

3. 3

   Minutes of the Previous Meeting

   Minute

   The Minutes of the previous meeting were approved as an accurate record.

   Papers: Minutes of the Previous Meeting, Decision Schedule 03.09.2025
4. 4

   Development Management: Planning Application Schedule

   Minute

   (1) That decisions be recorded as shown on the Planning Applications Schedule attached as an Appendix A. (2) That the Planning and Development Manager be authorised to draft any amendments to/additional condition

   Papers: Development Management: Planning Application Schedule, Uskmouth HRA, Late Representations-25/0407
5. 5

   Appeal Decisions

   Minute

   Members attention was drawn to the appeals report for information.

   Papers: Appeal Agenda October 2025

Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.

The minutes record no declarations of interest.

• Malcolm Linton, ChairLabourSent apologies
• Tim Harvey, Vice ChairLabourPresent
• Bev Perkins, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Gavin Horton, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Jason Jordan, Committee MemberNewport Independent PartyPresent
• John Jones, Committee MemberConservativePresent
• Mark Howells, Committee MemberIndependentSent apologies
• Matthew Pimm, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Stephen Cocks, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Trevor Watkins, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• William Routley, Committee MemberConservativeSent apologies

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