NSW Liberal Party powerbrokers will attempt to use a party conference in May to impose a ban on property developers running in local council elections, after their repeated efforts to change the rules were blocked behind closed doors.

Debate on the ban was again delayed on Friday night at a state executive meeting in the southern highlands, amid resistance from federal minister and factional operative Alex Hawke, who is Prime Minister Scott Morrison's representative on the executive.

Federal government minister and lieutenant of Scott Morrison, Alex Hawke, opposes the ban. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The moderate faction has a "hit list" of councillors, some of whom are property developers or are believed to be property developers, whom they want to prevent re-contesting this year's council elections.

"We can't be running people if there's potential dodginess," one state executive member said. "It is infuriating. It hurts our brand, even if it's just a perception."