Car Parking charges and false information from Ipserv Ltd

Le_Kirk

You might want to start off by stating what it is about, you know, we know but the Ombudsman wont, just a precis to introduce it.

Cardriver45

Jenni_D said:

Make sure you're consistent with IPSERV. (There's at least one IPSERVE)

Not sure if the first few bullets ref. POFA are relevant for an LGO complaint?

I thought I would include them just to demonstrate how the council and Ipserv have provided false information and lied on several occasions. But if people think they are not relevant, I can remove them.

KeithP

It took me a moment or two to work out what the initials IBC stood for in that letter. Suggest that when you first mention Ipswich Borough Council, you include IBC in brackets following it. E.g Ipswich Borough Council (IBC).

That's if you really feel the need for those sort of abbreviations at all.  

Cardriver45

Le_Kirk said:

You might want to start off by stating what it is about, you know, we know but the Ombudsman wont, just a precis to introduce it.

Is this OK for an introduction? I wasn't sure what to write

I am filing a complaint about the conduct of Ipswich Borough Council and their commercial arm Ipserv Limited after they provided false information in writing among other discrepancies on more than one occasion.

I complained to Ipserv Ltd after receiving 2 PCN Notice to Keepers as both didn’t meet the requirements set out by POFA so were invalid. They then replied with incorrect and misleading information regarding dates and POFA information, so I complained to them, Ipswich Borough Council and the British Parking Association. The council closed my complaint without even investigating and said that I should just complain to Ipserv. I was then given a series of misleading statements by the council, Ipserv and the BPA about the Protection of Freedoms Act and Ipserv not being part of the council. After further investigation, I not only found out the close ties between the council and Ipserv, but a series of what I consider dubious practices by the council in their running of Ipserv Ltd. I have detailed the information below as bullet points.

Le_Kirk

It sets the scene rather then letting the read (Ombuds-person) come to it cold.

1505grandad

"As has been proven, as IBC is effectively underwriting the losses of IPSERV - therefore the parking (place) is effectively being maintained at public expense"

Just checking  -  should this perhaps be (company) or similar?

Jenni_D

I think @Cardriver45 is right ... they're trying to show that the land is Council land and so a) not relevant land vis-a-vis POFA and b) ANPR not allowed.

Coupon-mad

I agree that POFA non compliance is not relevant to the LGO complaint. 

There was no much in this thread that was said to lend itself to a LGO complaint though, so I'd suggest going back over all 19 pages and picking up any response that says 'tell that to the LGO' so you don't miss anything.

I only skim read but have you added the admittance from the Council that they invented this Ltd company in order to make profits from the Council's operations?  I am not sure that's allowed and think the LGO should put the entire set up and intentions under scrutiny.

Cardriver45

ihatetrump said:

@Cardriver45 might be interested in this:



This 'Private' company has managed to escape paying Business Rates on the land it owns - I don't know of any private limited companies that would be able to evade paying Council Business Rates - oh except those companies owned & run by the Council!

I don't think this is the same car park.  But I've checked and all that is registered is the whole university land.

They are charging students and staff £2 a day to park in the car park so are running it on a commercial basis. So should the car park be registered as well as a car park on there for business rates or is it enough to just register the whole land including the uni buildings?

Cardriver45

This is the reply I have received from Ipswich Borough Council re my FOI on Whatdotheyknow for the contract between Ipserv and UOS for managing their carpark and for proof that the contract was put out to tender. I've also made a request to the Uni so I will see what they come back with.

"Dear Requester,

I refer to your recent request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 about the contract between Ipserv and University of Suffolk.

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that this Council does not hold the information you requested.
[note – you must ensure that you have taken into account whether or not it is appropriate/necessary for you to neither confirm nor deny whether you hold the information before confirming that you do not hold it]

1. I am requesting under the Freedom of Information Act a copy of the contract between Ipserv Ltd. and University of Suffolk for the management of 'The University Car Park' Long Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1LQ.
Ipswich Borough Council does not hold this information. Ipserv Ltd. is wholly owned by the Council but is a separate company and subject to the Freedom of Information Act in its own right. Please direct your request to [email address].

2. I also request evidence to prove that the contract was put out for tender before being offered to Ipserv.
Ipswich Borough Council does not hold this information. It is suggested that this request for information is directed to the University of Suffolk. Please see https://www.uos.ac.uk/content/data-privacy

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to the Monitoring Officer, Grafton House, 15-17 Russell Road, Ipswich IP1 2DE, within 40 working days of the date of response. Please note that we are not obliged to accept requests for internal reviews after this date.

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Council.

Kind regards,
The Information Officer
[Ipswich Borough Council request email]