Just as the European Commission approves the nearly-£1 billion Wales Rural Development Programme for 2014-20, Monmouthshire County Council’s Cabinet has approved the Vale of Usk Rural Development Strategy for delivering the local share of the pot to the county and the rural parts of Newport, partners in the venture.  An independent Local Action Group will govern the activity and is expected to make its first call for projects after a July launch.  The £2.79m programme is much smaller than the 2007-13 programme and therefore focuses on consolidation and extension of previous programmes.  For more details go to http://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/app/uploads/2015/04/4-Vale-of-Usk-Local-Development-Strategy.pdf and http://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/app/uploads/2015/04/4a-150306-Vale-of-Usk-LDS-resubmission.pdf.