WEST Somerset Council has been accused of selling off "public property" on the cheap to councillors and staff after organising an in-house auction of unwanted office items. The authority has emailed all staff and councillors inviting them to submit sealed bids for furniture which will not be needed in the new centralised offices in Williton. But the move has been criticised by one councillor who believes the authority should have put the items in a general sale and not allowed only a select few to "cash in". The member, who asked not to be named, told the Free Press: "This is public property that is being sold off to council members and council employees in sealed bids and I for one will not be bidding on any of it. "It is a clear conflict of interests - employees and councillors can buy stuff on the cheap which, technically, belongs to the public." But Stacey Beaumont, the council's media and public relations officer, said the sale was not unusual and was the best way to realise value for money for the items. She said a stock-take had revealed the furniture on offer was of "very little value" and was disappointed a councillor had "felt the need to go to the media" about the sale. She said: "Auction house commission fees are, on average, between 15 per cent and 20 per cent and sales are also subject to VAT, not to mention the staff time that would be wasted on admin and invoicing. "It is entirely normal for councils to dispose of minor assets by selling to staff, selling on eBay or donating unsold items to charity as we are doing because, overall, this represents best value for money."