An investigation into the City of Perth has intensified with the Department of Local Government issuing a notice blocking all elected members access to the city's information systems, including email and anything related to the storage of data and information.

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The ABC understand the city's acting CEO, Annaliese Battista, has written to Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi and all councillors letting them know the notice means they cannot destroy, remove or delete any documents or electronic devices.

The have also been told to refrain from physically removing any related items from Council House, the city office from where the city's workers and 700 staff are based.

The ABC understands a car was also searched as it left the building.

Suspension imminent

Local Government Minister David Templeman is expected to today suspend the Perth City Council, effective immediately, and launch a panel inquiry with the powers of a royal commission.

The move will see commissioners appointed in place of the council and the panel would have the power to recommend the council be sacked.

The latest developments come after weeks of recent turmoil, including two CEOs taking stress leave within days, both citing an "unsafe workplace".

The City of Perth yesterday issued a statement saying CEO Martin Mileham, who is on stress leave until Tuesday, met with WorkSafe in mid-2017 to discuss concerns about workplace safety.

That statement was issued as it was confirmed another of the city's executives, Planning and Development Director Erica Barrenger, had gone on sick leave.

City of Perth Planning and Development director Erica Barrenger is the third executive to go on sick leave in a fortnight. ( Supplied: City of Perth )

Leaked emails warned of 'unsafe workspace'

The ABC on Wednesday revealed the City of Perth's most senior staff documented concerns about their "unsafe workplace" going back to May 2016, and two months ago called for commissioners to be implemented in place of the council, according to a leaked email.

The letter from Ms Battista to Mr Mileham, dated December 23, 2017, raised claims of "sustained and persistent poor conduct" by City of Perth elected members "generally" and Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi "specifically", and its ongoing impact on senior administration staff.

City of Perth acting CEO Annaliese Battista. ( LinkedIn )

Ms Battista was appointed the city's new acting chief executive — its third in less than two weeks — at a special meeting of council earlier this week after the two men who had been in the role took sudden stress leave, both citing an unsafe work environment.

In the letter, Ms Battista claims the concerns about elected member conduct had been formalised in writing as early as May 2016.

In the December letter, she asked Mr Mileham to "take action," saying the working environment at the City of Perth: