Perth's Deputy Lord Mayor James Limnios has accused Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi of "ruling with an iron fist" as a motion of no confidence was carried against him, amid a growing revolt by councillors pushing for Cr Scaffidi to stand aside.

Key points: Motion of no confidence carried against Deputy Lord Mayor

Motion of no confidence carried against Deputy Lord Mayor Lord Mayor reiterates she will not be resigning

Lord Mayor reiterates she will not be resigning Deputy Mayor says motion was stunt to divert attention

Cr Scaffidi is set to go before the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) after a Local Government Report was released earlier this month which outlined her failure to disclose travel related gifts and contributions.

The report found 45 serious breaches of the Local Government Act, and followed a damning Corruption and Crime Commission report released last year.

Two councillors and Cr Limnios last tonight confirmed their view Ms Scaffidi should stand aside until the SAT investigation is complete.

But Ms Scaffidi defended her integrity several times to the meeting and said she would be "standing by until the bitter end".

However in a surprise turn of events, Councillor Janet Davidson called an urgent motion of no confidence because Cr Limnios has only attended 30 per cent of council related events.

The motion was carried.

Mr Limnios hit out at the move, saying it was nothing more than the Lord Mayor "having a go" at him.

He said it was her way of saying she "rules with an iron fist, cop it".

Last week Mr Limnios called on Ms Scaffidi to stand aside pending further legal action, saying Perth risked becoming a "laughing stock".

The call was supported by councillors Jemma Green and Reece Harley.

Motion a 'publicity stunt', Limnios says

Cr Limnios said his call for Ms Scaffidi to stand aside was not personal.

Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi has defended her position at Perth city council. ( ABC News: Charlotte Hamlyn )

"It was about the integrity of the office of Lord Mayor," he said.

"I never asked for her to resign, all I wanted her to do was to step aside and allow due process."

Ms Scaffidi had urged him to move a motion of no confidence, however the city's chief executive sent an email to councillors earlier this week, advising them that even if the motion passed it would not be legally binding.

Cr Limnios said Cr Davidson's motion was out of line.

"It wasn't an urgent matter, it was not a threatening matter, it was not a financial matter, it was a publicity stunt to deflect the attention from the Lord Mayor to me," he said.

"It was the Lord Mayor's opportunity and grandstanding, if you like, to get a message out to people.

"In all fairness, she's probably under extreme stress and this was her opportunity to put certain people in their place."

He said Ms Scaffidi was no longer talking to him.

"I'm sure on a professional level she will talk to me in order for the city to function, I just hope she can separate professional from personal," he said.