Tourism Bay of Plenty trustees will receive a pay increase following a decision by Tauranga City Council.

In a meeting yesterday, council agreed increase remuneration for trustees of Tourism Bay of Plenty 'to an appropriate level in order to attract and retain talented and qualified trustees”.

Council has agreed to increase pay for Tourism Bay of Plenty trustees to entice people onto the board. File photo.

Communications manager Aimee Driscoll says the time and effort required by trustees for Tourism Bay of Plenty was recognised by Tauranga City Councillors yesterday.

The agreement is to increase the trustee remuneration with the lower end of the methodology.

Trustees will receive an annual remuneration of $7500, the deputy chair $9375, and the chair $15000.

The total increase of the change is $43,375, which will be included in the 2016/17 Annual Plan. The remuneration will commence July 1.

The rationale for appropriate remuneration is based on a methodology developed by Auckland Council.

'Tourism Bay of Plenty has an aspirational target to increase visitor spend to $1billion, strong governance and leadership will help to achieve this goal,” says Aimee.

'Council initiated the review to ensure that the level of remuneration aligns with the value that the trustees bring to the board, and because their remuneration hadn't changed in many years.”

Council has not reviewed the other Council Controlled Organisations.

The Tauranga Art Gallery trustees' remuneration was reviewed in February 2015, while it was agreed that director's remuneration for Bay Venues Limited would be reviewed through a Council-led board review in 2017/18.

'Council is currently recruiting for a new chairperson and two new trustees for the TBOP board, with applications closing Friday, March 25.

'It's expected that increasing the remuneration will assist council in recruiting these new trustees.”