The Greater London Authority (GLA) has cleared Green Party Leader Zack Polanski of any misconduct following a complaint regarding his council tax payments on a houseboat. The GLA's Monitoring Officer concluded that the issue falls outside the scope of the GLA Code of Conduct, as it pertains to his personal living arrangements rather than his official duties as a London Assembly Member.
Complaint Details
Conservative Assembly Member Neil Garratt filed a formal grievance last month after reports emerged that Mr Polanski had allegedly failed to pay council tax on a houseboat in Hackney. Mr Garratt argued that this breached the Nolan Principles and the GLA Code of Conduct, given Mr Polanski's role in approving the Mayor's budget, which influences council tax levels.
GLA Decision
However, the GLA Monitoring Officer stated that the complaint "relates to the Member's personal living arrangements" and "does not have a sufficient connection to his role as an Assembly Member." As a result, they concluded that "no further action" was necessary, adding that the conduct "is not regulated by the Code."
Mr Polanski's Response
In his defense, Mr Polanski's lawyers argued that the allegations were unsupported by evidence and politically motivated. Mr Polanski himself acknowledged that he could have taken "greater care" in understanding the council tax implications of his unconventional housing arrangement. He maintained that there was no intention to evade tax, attributing the issue to a misunderstanding of the rules for a houseboat mooring in a marina that straddles Hackney and Waltham Forest.
Political Reactions
Neil Garratt criticized the outcome, stating that Mr Polanski had "avoided consequences the same way he avoided council tax: through happy accidents and gaps in legislation." He added that it was "beyond parody" for a left-wing politician to demand others pay taxes while not paying his own. Mr Polanski dismissed the complaints as "politically motivated and not made in good faith," and his spokesperson declared the matter closed following the GLA's decision.
