As most frustrated journalists will tell you, Freedom of Information requests rarely come back promptly.
According to official government guidance, organisations, councils and public bodies should respond to a Freedom of Information Request within 20 working days.
Now, when I asked for details of parking tickets handed to elected members in Liverpool over a five year period I wasn't expecting those full results in 20 days, but the 16 month wait I have faced for this information is symptomatic of a council still struggling to recover from years of problems.