CONTROVERSIAL plans to relocate a council advice centre will be reconsidered, following a unanimous vote by a council committee.
Mole Valley District Council's (MVDC) cabinet chose to move the Leatherhead Help Shop from its High Street premises into the town's library, in Church Street, last month despite protests from all five Leatherhead councillors.
But on Tuesday the council's scrutiny committee voted unanimously in favour of a cross-party motion "calling in" the executive's decision, and urging them to halt the proposed move and negotiate a short-term lease at the current site.
Councillor Dave Howarth (Lib Dem, Leatherhead North), who proposed the motion, said: "This would constitute a severely downgraded service, which the public relies on.
"We are asking the executive to work with us as local councillors to find a more suitable and sustainable service for the long term, including looking seriously at options to move the library into the town centre, and relocate it with other services, such as the Help Shop."
The motion, seconded by Rosemary Dickson (Con, Leatherhead South), means the decision will be reconsidered by the executive on Tuesday.
The move would reportedly save the council £40,000 a year, but the motion urges the executive to provide information on the comparative space and features available at the library, and the cost of refitting.
Council leader Chris Townsend (Ind, Ashtead Park) said: "We are happy to take on board those views when we look at it at executive next week."