London assembly officials are considering whether to launch an investigation into Zack Polanski, the Green party leader, after he admitted he may have failed to pay the correct council tax while living on a houseboat in east London. The Greater London Authority (GLA) monitoring officer is assessing a formal complaint from Labour chair Anna Turley, who alleges a potential breach of conduct by Polanski as an assembly member.
Polanski's party has described the situation as an “unintentional mistake” and said he has “immediately taken steps” to pay any tax owed. The Green party told the Times that Polanski rented a room at another address where council tax was included, and stayed on the boat only “occasionally”. However, government guidance states that a person may be liable for council tax on a boat if it is their “sole or main” residence.
Waltham Forest council has confirmed it launched an investigation into whether any council tax was owed on the mooring where the houseboat was situated. The Times also reported an advertisement for the sale of the boat in which Polanski’s partner wrote: “We are moving to a house and so will sadly be leaving the gorgeous community behind.”
In her complaint, Turley cited section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, which requires public office holders who are two months or more in arrears on council tax to declare that fact at meetings and prohibits them from voting on certain financial matters. A Green party spokesperson said Polanski “denies any wrongdoing and will cooperate fully with the official process”.
The GLA confirmed it has received two complaints and is following its usual process. The monitoring officer will make a decision after consulting two independent people outside the GLA. Assembly members can face sanctions if found in breach of ethics rules, though these are often minor.
