A reward points card for Brummies who do good work in the community and help keep the city clean would be introduced by city Conservatives if they win the local council election.

The Birmingham Reward Card would also offer incentives to those leading healthy lifestyles, choosing public transport and reducing their waste.

The policy is set out in the Conservatives local election manifesto which includes earlier pledges to green up the Aston Expressway, demand people live in the city five years before joining the council house waiting list and demolish all council tower blocks over the next decade.

The rewards could be money off tickets for live sports or music events and festivals, reduced council charges or even discounts at shops which join the scheme.

Conservative deputy leader Randal Brew launched the Reward Card policy saying: “We want to actively promote positive behavioural changes in individuals and communities to improve the lives of everyone in Birmingham.

"To support this we will be introducing a ‘Birmingham Reward Card’ that allows residents to earn points that can be redeemed against payments to the council, attendance at cultural and sporting events with partners or with local businesses that join the scheme”.

Cllr Randal Brew

The Conservatives say they would be based on the technology contained in the Swift Travel Card used on buses and trams in the region to reduce set up costs.

And they would ask residents which activities should be rewarded.

It would be based on Swift card technology

Suggestions include:

  • Volunteering in the community through official schemes
  • Choosing sustainable travel options such as cycling and public transport
  • Recycling and reducing waste
  • Making healthy lifestyle changes

Brummies go to the polls on Thursday, May 3 and all 101 Birmingham City Council seats are up for grabs .

The Conservative manifesto also confirms their commitment to weekly household waste collections , scrap the InReach private housing development arm under which the council builds and sells homes at full market price and create a Head Start In Life fund to ensure vulnerable primary school children get the skills they need.

How a city tree might look

They will also invest in living walls not only on the Aston Expressway, to green up the city. Their 'city trees' would line roads and help absorb noise and pollution.

Conservative leader Robert Alden said: “We have a plan to get Birmingham clean again after the mess of Labour’s 221 day bin dispute, our plans set out how to build one city, a cleaner, greener and safer city, a city of aspiration and a plan to house our city.”