A contentious decision to relocate an advice centre out of a high street has been sent back to the council executive.

There are concerns that moving the HelpShop from the centre of Leatherhead to the library in Church Street would make vital services harder to reach.

Discussions at Mole Valley District Council on Tuesday came after councillors 'called in' the decision saying it was based on incomplete information and would have negative economic and financial implications.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Dave Howarth said at the meeting scrutiny committee members voted to recommend the executive halt the move and negotiate with the landlord to keep the HelpShop there in the short term.

Coun Howarth said it was recommended that the council should instead work with Surrey County Council to move the library into the centre and co-locate all services there.

He said: "It’s a small stepping stone. But the most interesting thing is Conservative members started to realise the decision wasn’t made on particularly solid grounds."

Coun Howarth, who was one of five district councillors in Leatherhead to call in the decision, said they believed there had not been enough information or due diligence done when the executive made the decision.

He said: "The relocation of the HelpShop to outside the town centre would be a disaster both for residents that rely on the vital services it provides, and also the High Street, which thrives on having a variety of shops and services open in it."

He said the move would reduce access to services, one of the council’s priorities, by taking a vital resource out of the centre and creating another empty property.

Prior to Tuesday's meeting Mole Valley District Council said they were working with Surrey County Council to better offer council services ‘under one roof’ at the library with free parking.

Councillor Vivienne Michael, portfolio holder for customer service and wellbeing, said they carefully considered seven options and surveyed customers proved willing to walk an extra three minutes.

Ms Michael said: "The HelpShop service is a valued one, the service is costly to MVDC and a co-location will allow customers to maintain their access to services in Leatherhead whilst achieving a significant saving.

"No other option that was investigated could offer this level of saving whilst still keeping this valued service in Leatherhead."

She added that a 'one-off opportunity' to break the current HelpShop lease had occurred after a rate review in September 2012.

Hubert Carr, chairman of Leatherhead Residents’ Association, said: "We think it’s a very bad move.

"We are of the view that the library should be moved into the town and merged with the HelpShop, which are both sources of information."