Zack Polanski faces investigation over Green leader's failure to pay council tax

The Greater London Authority’s (GLA) monitoring officer ensures assembly members follow ethical rules within City Hall.

The watchdog is considering a formal investigation after the complaints.

In an email revealed by The Times, the standards officer said: "I am treating your correspondence as a formal complaint under the GLA’s standards regime.

“The monitoring officer is required to consider complaints about the conduct of elected members in accordance with the approved GLA member code of conduct complaints procedure.

"This will now be considered in accordance with the authority’s established procedures, including an initial assessment of whether an investigation is required.

"Polanski admitted he may have made an 'unintentional mistake' over the payment of council tax after questions were raised about his living situation on a narrowboat in east London."

Waltham Forest Council has since confirmed that it has launched an investigation into the council tax owed, the publication reports.

A Green Party spokesman said: "Zack is aware of complaints made by the Labour Party and the Conservative Party.

"He denies any wrongdoing and will cooperate fully with the official process to answer any queries."

If a member of the public or a fellow politician alleges that the Mayor or an Assembly Member has breached the Code of Conduct, the Monitoring Officer conducts an initial assessment, attempts to resolve the matter informally, or launches a formal investigation.

The Monitoring Officer is required to operate independently from partisan politics.

The GLA said: "The monitoring officer has received two complaints that Zack Polanski breached the Greater London Authority’s members’ Code of Conduct.

"Those complaints are being considered under the GLA’s usual process. It would not be appropriate to comment further while this process is ongoing."

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