Challenge to a decision of the Culture Recovery Board dismissed

In R (The Get Real Marketing Company Limited) v Culture Recovery Board and Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport [2022] EWHC 1137 (Admin), the Administrative Court considered a challenge to a decision of the Culture Recovery Board. The Board, chaired by Sir Damon Buffini, was appointed by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to oversee the distribution of a fund for cultural and heritage organisations adversely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. One aspect of the fund was the provision of loans on commercially advantageous terms.

The claim was brought by The Get Real Marketing Company, the parent of a group of companies in the music, events and marketing sectors, after its application for a loan was refused. The challenge, which was the first claim against the Board to proceed to a substantive hearing and which focused on the rationality of its decision, was dismissed. The judgment is available here.

Adam appeared for the Culture Recovery Board and Secretary of State, led by Stephen Kosmin of 11 KBW.