A BID for devolution by Hampshire county bosses has been discussed with Government ministers, the Daily Echo can reveal.

They believe Hampshire can be better ruled if it has more control over spending on the economy, health and transport.

It follows greater devolution being handed to northern metropolitan areas in the wake of the Scottish Independence vote in September.

The county council has confirmed to the Daily Echo that it is currently in talks with the UK Government over the prospect of devolution.

If successful this will pave the way for what will be the biggest shake-up in how Hampshire is run for a generation.

The attempt to wrestle more governing powers from Whitehall will be debated today at the county’s full council meeting.

Speaking ahead of today’s debate, Cllr Roy Perry said: “In essence there is Government funding that currently comes down to areas across England in a way that currently is determined by Whitehall and Westminster “I think the people of Hampshire should have more say over that – certainly as much say as Manchester and the northern cities do on how money is distributed in their areas.

“I think a sub region such as Hampshire and the unitaries of Southampton, Portsmouth and IOW at about two million population could cope with the same responsibilities as those now being proposed for Greater Manchester.”

Earlier this month, Chancellor George Osborne granted more powers to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority so that it could funnel investment to where it thinks it is needed – rather than where Whitehall thinks it is best spent.

It is hoped this will create a “northern powerhouse”.

This comes as Southampton and Portsmouth city councils – and possibly others such as Fareham and Winchester – have signalled they would be ready to pool resources and work together, having been given extra powers to do so from Westminster.