Polanski says he will pay any council tax owed linked to houseboat

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Polanski says he will pay any council tax owed linked to houseboatImage source, PA MediaByParis GourtsoyannisPolitical correspondentPublished1 hour agoZack Polanski has confirmed he will pay any outstanding council tax he owes, saying he believed he was not liable for the charge while living on a houseboat in London. The Green Party leader told the he could be liable for between £3,000 and £4,000 in unpaid council tax, owed to the London borough of Waltham Forest. However, Polanski said the council has yet to tell him whether he faces a bill for unpaid tax - and claimed he may not owe anything at all.

Speaking on Breakfast, Polanski said working out the tax bill for living on a boat was "complicated". Last month Polanski, who sits on the Greater London Assembly, was cleared by the Greater London Authority following a complaint over the matter. He said: "The council have still not reached a decision because they're saying that at the marina where I was living, largely they're paying business rates, which is what I assumed was what I was paying instead of council tax.

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"I said to the council and I'll say again, if I am found to owe any money, then of course I will pay that. "Polanski added that he didn't know exactly how much he might owe. Waltham Forest council previously said it was taking legal advice over "complex factors unique to moorings".

Polanski said: "Ultimately the council are saying that it might look like I don't owe anything at all, because of the business rates. "If you were going to work it out in terms of Waltham Forest, it's probably about between £3,000 and £4,000, if I were to owe something. "In May, the Green Party admitted Polanski may have failed to pay council tax on the houseboat, which was his home until recently.

The party said Polanski apologised and had "taken steps to pay any council tax he may be found to owe". Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.