Ministers are keeping a close eye on Wellington City Council, over a stoush between councillors and officials.

Some around the council table claim CEO Barbara McKerrow is withholding information from them.

She'd devised new protocols limiting information councillors could request from officials.

The proposal's been withdrawn after Local Government Minister Simeon Brown labelled it 'appalling'.

Brown says it should never have happened.

"The CEO of the council needs to realise that she is not elected, and that the councillors and the mayor is."

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