LOCAL control of health service budgets in Oxfordshire has been included in a £4bn bid to secure major new powers from the Government.

The bid was submitted today by the county's six biggest councils, the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, with backing from both of Oxford's universities.

The authorities want spending powers to support roads and major transport schemes, skills training, housing and - it has emerged - the National Health Service.

As revealed by the Oxford Mail last month, talks had previously been over a deal that would not have included health and been worth about £300m over a five year period.

But it is understood that in the final weeks before the Government's deadline today, bosses from the Oxfordshire CCG joined discussions and backed proposals for more cooperation between health and social services.

The bid, confirmed today, also said a review of the way Oxfordshire's authorities work together could be carried out and stressed "the importance of a transparent overview of all the budgets and resources".

A spokeswoman for the LEP said discussions would now begin between those backing the bid and the Government.

A final deal would have to be approved by each of the six councils after a public consultation.

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said: "The CCG's inclusion in the bid makes sense in terms of tackling major issues like bed blocking, but also the location of GP surgeries.

"At the moment we need to establish more detail, but there are huge things to be gained if you can do something with it.

"The intention is to make something that covers the city and the county as a collective entity."

Ian Hudspeth, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, added: "Oxfordshire already has a strong economy, but if we are to continue to create good jobs and opportunities for future generations we cannot stand still.

"The county council is committed to working with local partners to shape that future, and I am encouraged that we have jointly agreed this expression of interest."