A JOINT pension fund for staff in some 250 Oxfordshire public bodies is to be set up with nine other areas.

Overall it is estimated that by sharing costs, the fund could save more than £500m by 2036.

Annual savings would exceed annual costs by 2021, a report to the Oxfordshire Pension Fund Commitee said.

The scheme has been drawn up by consultants at PwC and would be called the Brunel Pension Partnership.

The cost to the commitee of developing the fund would be £467,000.

It is due to be considered by the committee at 4pm on Thursday, in County Hall, Oxford.

Correction: This article previously stated the fund was only for Oxfordshire County Council, which was incorrect.