Gloucestershire could become part of a West of England transport hub to gain greater investment and funding.

Following advice from the Department of Transport the county council is looking at how it can work with other local councils to secure national funding to improve transport infrastructure within the county.

The creation of a sub-national transport body or SNTB could help promote investments in transport schemes where there is a shared interest across areas.

Government expects SNTBs to produce a strategic transport plan which would speed-up economic growth and make a big difference in how our transport network performs.

This could include rail schemes and investments in the wider highway corridors that exist across council boundaries.

Depending on the outcome of next week's cabinet meeting, Gloucestershire County Council could look into the benefits of creating a SNTB in partnership with councils across the West of England including; Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Poole and Bournemouth.

Cabinet will hear about the benefits of increased partnership working, including the opportunity to have direct influence over decisions that are currently made by government and having a bigger role in how money is spent in the West of England.

Cllr Lynden Stowe, cabinet member for economy, skills and growth who is putting the motion forward, said, "I'm confident that cabinet will see the benefits in creating a sub-national transport body. A strong united partnership across western England would influence government thinking and promote investment in transport schemes that will make a positive difference for Gloucestershire."

Nationally four SNTB have been formed. These are Transport for the North, Transport for the South East, Midlands Connect and England's Economic Heartland. Work has also begun to create a SNTB for West Anglia and one for the South West Peninsula which includes Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.