PLANS to modernise services and cut staff to save £4m will go ahead after a key council vote on Thursday.

Wokingham Borough Council is soon to enter into the second phase of a major restructuring known as the '21st Century Council'.

The project aims to save money by re-organising the council's workforce and introducing more digital self-service for the public.

According to a report released in August 2016 this could save more than £4m a year as the work of 120 to 150 full time employees or part-time equivalents is made redundant.

The Liberal Democrats wanted the council to pause the process, with group leader Lindsay Ferris tabling a motion to stop Phase 2 until a full time chief executive is employed.

"The whole advantage of this sort of approach is to take a long term coherent view and build sensibly for the future," argued Lib-Dem Prue Bray.

"Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that's happening. We need a pause and a review."

The Liberal resistance, bolstered by loan Labour councillor Andy Croy, met strong opposition from the Conservative faction however.

Executive member for finance Cllr Oliver Whittle said the savings on offer were too good to pass up, and dismissed Cllr Ferris's contention that council staff had been made miserable by the overhaul.

"Phase 1 has already been completed on time and on budget and is now delivering £2m savings a year, and I believe we should immediately proceed with Phase 2," he said.

"He (Ferris) alleges that staff morale in WBC is low. However the evidence of the internal staff surveys done as part of the programme simply does not support this claim.

"He comments that some staff have been made redundant and sadly this is correct. However he does not mention that 30 people have received promotions."

At the end of a three hour council meeting and with councillors required to leave the chambers at 10.30pm, the Conservative majority comfortably voted down Cllr Ferris's motion.