Car Parking charges and false information from Ipserv Ltd

Cardriver45

I did ask the university before and they said that Ipserv took over the contract in 2018. So does that mean that the University paid business rates before but then they no longer did once they contracted a council owned company to manage their car park?

If that's the case that seems pretty dodgey as well

ihatetrump

To find out who owns the land, you'd have to do a Land Registry search - it costs £3 to get the result:

https://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry

Then you can do FOI request - which is free  

You're looking to get a copy of any contract that exists with Ipserv for that car park

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/

(search the requests first to see if someone has already asked questions)

If the University owns the land then there must be either a lease or management agreement with Ipserv - but as you can see from the VOA search above, something happened on 22 June 2018 to take the land out of the rating list - I suspect this will be when Ipserv took over the car park in some form.

Just keep digging and I'm sure you will strike gold and any complaint to the LGO will be sure to irritate the Council - they absolutely hate being investigated with a passion - it exposes them and they hate being questioned.

Cardriver45

ihatetrump 

Ok I'll do a search

This what the University replied to me before after it was suggested that I contact them by PEPIPOO;

Thank you for your enquiry.

From the communications received from our Estates and External Relations teams, I can see that Ipserv took over management of the university car parks at the start of the academic year in September 2018.  From a communication sent to staff and students in September 2018, visitors were to be directed to the public pay and display car parks (with the nearest being in Duke Street) and the University car park in Long Street was to be used by staff and students with a valid permit only.

As these changes took place at the same time as Ipserv taking over management, the only signage they erected are the noticeboards currently still displayed which state the car park is for valid permit holders only.

I hope this answers your query.

Cardriver45

I went on the land registry site from the link but there's no mention of the car park when I typed in the car park's post code. Just this that's in this picture 

Castle

ihatetrump said:

To find out who owns the land, you'd have to do a Land Registry search - it costs £3 to get the result:

https://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry

Then you can do FOI request - which is free  

You're looking to get a copy of any contract that exists with Ipserv for that car park

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/

(search the requests first to see if someone has already asked questions)

If the University owns the land then there must be either a lease or management agreement with Ipserv - but as you can see from the VOA search above, something happened on 22 June 2018 to take the land out of the rating list - I suspect this will be when Ipserv took over the car park in some form.

Just keep digging and I'm sure you will strike gold and any complaint to the LGO will be sure to irritate the Council - they absolutely hate being investigated with a passion - it exposes them and they hate being questioned.

I don't think it's the same car park as the Valuation information shows the site is only 56sqm-about 24 feet x 24 feet:-https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/business-rates-find/valuations/10937017000

Cardriver45

Is this draft I've written OK for my FOI request to the Borough council on the what do they know site?

Dear Ipswich Borough Council,

I am requesting under the Freedoms of Information Act a copy of the contract between Ipserv Ltd. and the University of Suffolk for the management of 'The University Car Park' Long Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1LQ

Do not reply to my request that Ipserv is a private company, as I know that Ipserv are the commercial arm of Ipswich Borough Council and run by prominent members of your council including Russel Williams your chief executive, James Fairclough Head of Culture & Environment and Christine Spittlehouse Human Resources Operations Manager plus Ipswich Borough Council has over 75% of shares, over 75% of ownership and voting rights and the right to appoint and remove directors.
Ipserv is shown in its accounts to be a wholly owned subsidiary of Ipswich Borough Council.

Yours faithfully,

Coupon-mad

 I’d ask as well for evidence that the contract was put out for tender.  I believe Universities have to invite companies to pitch for such contracts and I wonder if that was done properly and it would be something for the LGO to look at, if not.

Cardriver45

Coupon-mad said:

 I’d ask as well for evidence that the contract was put out for tender.  I believe Universities have to invite companies to pitch for such contracts and I wonder if that was done properly and it would be something for the LGO to look at, if not.

Is this wording OK?

I also request evidence to prove that the contract was put out for tender before being offered to Ipserv.

Coupon-mad

Yes, go for it.

Cardriver45

Coupon-mad said:

Yes, go for it.

Is it worth me making the same request to the University on there as well as they are on that site too?