The leader of the Green Party is facing an investigation after claims he failed to pay the council tax while living on a houseboat in London.
Zack Polanski has come under pressure this week to explain whether the houseboat, moored in east London, had been his primary residence for three years and liable for the payment of up to £4,000 to Waltham Forest town hall.
A Green Party spokesperson said Mr Polanski had "taken steps to pay any council tax he may be found to owe" and that he apologises “sincerely for the unintentional mistake."
The party originally said he only stayed on the boat “occasionally” but then issued an apology from Mr Polanski late on Monday night.
Waltham Forest council, which the Green seized control of at the local elections last week, said it was now “making assessments and taking legal advice on several complex factors unique to moorings” at the marina in the Lee Valley Park.
A town hall spokesman told the Telegraph: “For residential moorings in the marina, a statutory exemption for council tax would apply. However, we understand these are not residential moorings.
“We are working with Mr Polanski’s team to establish the full picture, at which point we will be able to determine whether or not there is any council tax owed to Waltham Forest.”
Last week the Times reported seeing an advertisement for the sale of the boat in which Mr Polanski’s partner wrote: “We are moving to a house and so will sadly be leaving the gorgeous community behind.”
Tax lawyer Dan Neidle, founder of Tax Policy Associates, analysed the situation.
He said: “If the boat was in fact Mr Polanski’s ‘sole or main residence’ then he and/or his partner should have registered for, and paid, council tax for those three years.”
Labour has urged London Assembly officials to investigate.
Conservative member of the London Assembly Neil Garratt has also asked City Hall to look into whether Mr Polanski has breached conduct rules and requested City Hall authorities formally investigate the claims.
In a letter outlining his complaint, Mr Garratt asked for an assessment of whether Mr Polanski might have breached the Greater London Authority Code of Conduct.
He said in a statement: “People rightly expect senior politicians to follow the rules and pay the taxes they impose on others.
“If Mr Polanski paid all his council tax, why is he refusing to answer direct questions about when and where he paid it? I have asked the City Hall authorities to formally investigate these claims, as the public has a right to know the truth.”
It comes as the Greens celebrate historic wins in the local elections last week, largely at the expense of Labour.
The party won control of three London councils from Sir Keir Starmer’s party - Hackney, Lewisham and Waltham Forest.
Labour meanwhile saw its vote share in the capital collapse, resulting in a bruising round of losses.
Brent, Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Southwark, Lambeth and Wandsworth fell into no overall control (NOC) after decades of Labour rule, meaning no single party can govern alone.
These seven boroughs will now have to decide on a leader, and parties may need to come together to form coalitions. Negotiations are understood to already be underway in most boroughs.
