Green Party Leader Zack Polanski Cleared by GLA in Houseboat Council Tax Dispute

Green Party co-leader Zack Polanski has been cleared by the Greater London Authority (GLA) following a complaint regarding his non-payment of council tax for a houseboat in Hackney.

Conservative Assembly Member Neil Garratt lodged a formal grievance last month, alleging Polanski had breached the Nolan Principles and the GLA code of conduct during his tenure as a London Assembly member.

On Thursday, a GLA monitoring officer stated that “no further action” was required and the case had been closed. The officer determined 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”.

Polanski dismissed the grievances, also involving Labour MP Anna Turley, as “politically motivated and not made in good faith”. The issue initially arose from reports that Polanski was registered to vote at an east London marina without paying council tax.

Garratt’s submission argued that as an assembly member responsible for approving the mayor’s budget and influencing council tax levels, Polanski’s alleged conduct in not paying his own tax fell within his capacity as an assembly member.

Polanski’s lawyers countered that the complaint was “based on assumptions rather than established facts and must be viewed in the wider political context”. Polanski maintains he believed all mooring-related charges, including council tax, were covered by his existing fees and denies any intent to evade payment. A Green Party spokesperson previously stated Polanski had “taken steps to pay any council tax he may be found to owe” and “apologises sincerely for the unintentional mistake.”