Zack Polanski has been cleared by an ethics inquiry that examined complaints about his non-payment of council tax while residing on a houseboat. The Greater London Authority's monitoring officer concluded that the specifics of Polanski's living situation fell outside the scope of the inquiry, and thus he did not violate the code of conduct for London Assembly members.
The complaints, filed by Labour and Conservative parties, alleged that Polanski breached the ethics code by not paying council tax while living on a houseboat in east London from 2022. Polanski, who had previously apologized for the "unintentional mistake," disclosed in his evidence that it remained unclear whether any tax was owed, as the boat's mooring site straddled the border of two local authorities. He also shared his personal experience of financial hardship and housing insecurity.
Polanski stated he never intended to evade council tax or gain any improper financial advantage. He attributed any failure to a misunderstanding of requirements for an unconventional living arrangement. He noted that he had lived as a property guardian for five years, paying a license fee that covered utilities and council tax, which shaped his assumption that mooring fees included council tax when he moved onto the narrowboat in August 2022.
Polanski expressed concerns that the complaints were politically motivated, aimed at benefiting his opponents. The Green party stated the matter is closed following the independent inquiry's decision to take no further action. However, Conservative assembly member Neil Garratt criticized Polanski's "cavalier attitude" toward determining tax obligations.
