Zack Polanski, co-leader of the Green Party and London Assembly member, has escaped scrutiny over allegations he failed to pay council tax on his houseboat in east London. An investigation by the Greater London Authority's monitoring officer has concluded that Mr Polanski was within his rights, highlighting a grey area in the code of conduct for Assembly members.
The Labour and Conservative parties had lodged complaints against Mr Polanski, citing concerns he had not fulfilled his council tax obligations since moving to the houseboat in 2022. In an earlier apology, Mr Polanski described the oversight as "unintentional", pointing out that it remained unclear whether any tax was due, given the boat's location on the boundary of two local authorities.
Mr Polanski detailed his history of financial hardship and housing insecurity in his submission to the monitoring officer. He explained how living as a property guardian for five years had shaped his understanding of council tax obligations, leading him to believe that it was included within his mooring fees when he moved to the houseboat.
Mr Polanski stressed that he never intended to "evade council tax or avoid legal obligations", attributing any oversight to a misunderstanding stemming from his unconventional living arrangement. While acknowledging that more care could have been taken, he strongly denied suggestions questioning his integrity.
The Green Party has welcomed the outcome, stating that the independent inquiry by the GLA's monitoring officer has decided to take no further action. However, Neil Garratt, Conservative Assembly Member and complainant, countered that Mr Polanski's actions demonstrated a "cavalier attitude" towards establishing tax liabilities.