More than 1,000 jobs are set to be axed at Leicestershire County Council over the next four years as bosses try to plug a huge gap in its finances.

Yesterday, the Conservative administration at County Hall revealed its proposed budget from April this year and forecasts for the savings it says are needed up to 2017/18.

The council says it needs to save £79 million in that period but has so far only earmarked how about £48 million can be taken out of the budgets – leaving a £30 million hole.

It says it results from cuts in Government grants, coupled with an increase in demand for key services such as caring for the elderly and vulnerable youngsters.

Byron Rhodes, deputy council leader and finance spokesman, said: "Over the past four years we have taken out £48 million. An immense amount has already been done, but a lot more needs to be done.

"We will be looking at every service the council provides. Everything will be in the melting pot.

"At the moment we don't have a plan to find the £30 million. We will have do some fairly radical things."

About 750 posts have been axed at the council in the past three years, leaving it with 9,000 staff, excluding teachers.

Coun Rhodes said 1,100 more would go and that compulsory redundancies were inevitable.

Council leader Nick Rushton said: "Unfortunately, we have already picked all the low- hanging fruit and most of the people who wanted to go have done so."

Some of the savings already identified include cutting £300,000 funding for subsidising rural bus routes and £2.5 million from the children and young people's department, as growing numbers of schools leave council control and become academies.

A further £3 million will be stripped from senior management and administration costs.

East Midlands Unison spokesman Keith Libetta said the jobs cuts announcement was "terrible news for our members, but also for the public".

"There is only so much austerity the country can take and the loss of these jobs will ultimately start to affect the people who use the services provided by these employees," he said.

This is the view shoppers can expect when they visit Leicester's market after a proposed £7 million revamp.

Architects have created a computer-animated walk-through of the modern fish and meat hall Leicester City Council intends to build at the side of the 19th-century Corn Exchange.

The two-minute clip also shows the public square planned to replace the existing 1970s indoor market, which is to be demolished.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has described the current market building as dank and squalid, and says the proposed replacement timber and glass pavilion will be lighter, more airy and pleasant for traders and their customers. Yesterday, the council launched a six-week consultation on its scheme as it unveiled the animation

Sir Peter said: "I hope people will be excited by what we hope to do to improve the market, which is a vital part of the city centre economy.

"It can be hard to visualise plans from drawings, so we have done this short walk-through to better demonstrate what we have in mind.

"Our market is unique – a genuine Leicester icon ideally situated in the heart of a conservation area.

"We need to make the most of it, with a scheme that will encourage more local people to shop there and that will turn the market into a must-see attraction for tourists and other visitors.

"I want this new investment to unlock the market's true potential and help kick-start the regeneration of the surrounding area, but I'm very keen to hear what local people think about our proposals.

"I would encourage anyone with an interest in the future of Leicester's historic market to look at these concept designs and submit any comments or suggestions to us."

The idea has already been well received by market traders' representatives.

Fruit and veg stall-holder Paddy Deevey, who is chairman of the Leicester Branch of the National Market Traders Federation, said: "I think it looks good and it shows a commitment to the future of the market which has not had the attention it deserves over the years."

Sir Peter said there would be room to tweak the designs following consultation but said he wanted to press ahead and have the new hall built and open by Christmas.

After that, the old building would be flattened and the square created during the following 12 months.

Sir Peter says he will borrow cash to pay for the redevelopment against the £650,000 annual income the market brings in.

Officials will be holding a number of sessions at the Corn Exchange in the next few weeks to explain the proposal to shoppers.

The animation can be seen, and comments can be made, on the city council's website at:

www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk

For more information visit:

www.leicester.gov.uk/ marketconsultation

Hundreds of jobs are set to be axed after Waitrose said it would stop using a major distribution centre in Leicestershire.

The supermarket group's contract with the centre, in Bardon, near Coalville, will end in September after a shake-up of its supplier network.

The announcement is the latest jobs blow to hit the county in the past few days, after hundreds of redundancies at Leicester-based camera chain Jessops, and at car parts firm Schlegel Automative Europe, based close to the Waitrose distribution centre, in Bardon.

It is hoped German-based Kuehne & Nagel , which runs the centre, will be able to secure work from elsewhere and safeguard jobs.

Kuehne & Nagel spokeswoman Claire Hall said: "As part of a review of their logistics needs, Waitrose has decided not to renew its contract with us at the Bardon regional distribution centre beyond September 1.

"There are 420 people employed at the Bardon site. They are at risk of redundancy at this point in time.

"We are in the process of consulting with our staff and while this is ongoing it would be inappropriate to discuss further."

Waitrose, which has had grocery products supplied by the Bardon centre since 2005, said it had decided it no longer needed the Bardon site after expanding warehouse operations elsewhere.

Spokeswoman Amy Shields said: "We have been building capacity in our supply chain across the country in recent times to meet the needs of our growing branch network. As part of this development we have taken the decision not to renew our contract with Kuehne & Nagel at the Bardon regional distribution centre."

The affected jobs include warehouse workers, office staff and lorry drivers.

Andrew Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire, will meet the management of Kuehne & Nagel shortly to discuss the centre's future.

"Hopefully, they can pick up some more business for this site to replace the Waitrose work," he said.

"Distribution is the mainstay of North West Leicestershire and if it comes to redundancies we should hopefully see these people re-employed elsewhere in this area."

Councillor John Cotterill, who represents Bardon on North West Leicestershire District Council, said: "Hopefully, they'll be able to find a way around this, but nothing like this is good news, particularly as it comes on the back of the Schlegel closure.

"It's a recession and, unfortunately, when you start rationalising things like this there's always some pain."

Schlegel announced this week it will stop production on January 20 after administrators failed to find a buyer for the stricken business.

On Thursday, I took part in the best debate I have attended since becoming a Member of Parliament. It was on dementia and was organised by the Committee of Backbench MPs.

Let's be honest, a lot of parliamentary debates create more heat than light and are often about political point-scoring rather than a proper, reasonable discussion.

However, this one was different.

First, because many MPs spoke about their personal experiences as a son, daughter or wife of someone with dementia.

They talked about the shock of getting the diagnosis, the fear of what would happen and what it felt like losing the person they loved even before they had died.

While some had experienced fantastic support, others said they had faced a real struggle and, sometimes, unacceptably poor standards of care.

The second reason why the debate was different was that MPs from different political parties did not blame one another for the difficulties faced by people with dementia and their families.

Instead, they tried to understand the causes of these problems and what needed to change to improve care in future.

I summed up the debate as Labour's shadow minister for care and older people.

Like all the other MPs who spoke, I also talked about the experiences of my constituents and within my own family.

These experiences have shown me that we need to do much more to increase awareness about dementia and tackle the stigma that is still too often associated with the condition.

While there is currently no cure, people with dementia can live well, if they get the right help and support.

This means getting people diagnosed much earlier, with far better information about what having dementia means and the help that's available locally.

It also means joining up NHS, council and voluntary services so people do not have to battle different parts of the system and ensuring care and support is personalised to meets the needs of every individual and their family.

This cannot be done unless doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, home helps and care home staff have proper skills and training, particularly in how to communicate with dementia patients.

We must also face up to the long-term challenges of ensuring there is proper funding for medical research into dementia and a decent system of social care.

Of course, it is all very well talking about things. What my constituents want is for things to change on the ground.

Change is possible. Twenty years ago, people thought nothing could be done about cancer. That is no longer the case.

We need to do the same for dementia, which is why it will be a key priority of the new Health and Care Forum I have set up in Leicester West

Many people understandably think politicians are out of touch and do not live in the real world.

If you are one of them, please read the transcript of Thursday's dementia debate.

If you do, you will see that sometimes MPs do speak from the heart, about issues that really matter.

A council has voted to take legal action to stop three councillors from allegedly harassing senior staff.

Rutland County Council has set aside £90,000 to seek an injunction against Richard Gale, David Richardson and Nick Wainwright.

The trio have been accused of sending e-mails to chief executive Helen Briggs that, according to legal advisers, "are very likely to amount to harassment".

The councillors, who formed Rutland Anti-Corruption Group (RACP), have repeatedly called for her to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the suspension of a senior officer last summer who, hours later, took his own life.

Ms Briggs has explained to the councillors the widow of the officer wanted the circumstances of the disciplinary action against her husband to remain confidential.

The council claimed the group had also sent it baseless e-mails alleging officers had manipulated land deals, flouted financial rules and regulations and had tried to manipulate the award of contracts.

The council voted on Thursday to seek the injunction. Twenty-three backed the motion, three abstained.

Members also backed a motion to support officers who wish to bring legal action for harassment against the three councillors.

Speaking after the meeting, leader Roger Begy said: "The £90,000 is an insurance policy. Should our senior officers sue us for constructive dismissal, that could cost us £250,000.

"We have a chief executive and staff team who are simply doing their jobs to the best of their ability.

"Of course they should be subject to scrutiny and challenge as that is the basis of local democracy.

"However, they should not have to put up with false allegations about their conduct and regular questioning of their integrity."

A report by lawyers Bevan Brittan said the actions of RACP were damaging the ability of the council to recruit outstanding officers, hampering efforts to secure funding for education and recreation and distracting senior officers.

Councillors Begy said: "As councillors, we have to protect our staff and this decision sends out a strong message. Now we have to move forward."

The council decided to defer a claim for defamation against the group.

It decided to monitor all communications with the group through a single point of contact, subject to review by the chief executive, and that members of RACP must use the council's secure e-mail system.

Alan Duncan, MP for Rutland and Melton, said: 'The council has been forced to take this entirely proportionate action in response to the disgraceful conduct of these three councillors.

"Their campaign of harassment went far beyond legitimate and open scrutiny of the council.

"Instead, they have brought shame on the office of councillor. The chief executive and officers have my unequivocal support."

The group has not responded to calls to comment on the injunction.

Cases dealt with at Leicester Magistrates' Court include:

Christopher Ian Harvey (24), of London Road, Coalville, pleaded guilty to using a motor vehicle without a test certificate at the junction of Swannington Road and Coalville Lane, in Ravenstone, on April 19. He was fined £140, plus £60 costs.

Subhash Patel (45), of Fairhurst Road, Saffron Lane, Leicester, admitted failing to comply with the requirements of a community order made by Leicester Magistrates' Court on March 13, by failing to attend as instructed on September 19 and November 14. His original order was varied by adding a requirement to participate in an education, training and employment programme for 10 days.

Lee Hill (24), of Grantham Road, Netherhall, Leicester, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with his licence and driving without insurance, in London Road, Leicester, on October 23. He was fined £110, ordered to pay costs of £85 and disqualified from driving for three months.

Naomi Monks (21), of Rockingham Road, Loughborough, pleaded guilty to using racially-aggravated threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards a person, causing them or another person harassment, alarm or distress, in Ling Road, Loughborough, on July 27. She was discharged conditionally for 18 months and ordered to pay costs of £85.

Aysha Usman Ghani (37), of Beaumont Road, of Spinney Hills, Leicester, pleaded guilty to failing to maintain the lights on her car, in that her front offside and front near-side lamps were not in good working order, in East Park Road, Spinney Hill, on May 31. She was fined £30, plus £60 costs.

Leicester City will start as overwhelming favourites to beat Bristol City at Ashton Gate this afternoon, but it hasn't been the happiest of hunting grounds for them in recent years.

City have suffered some disappointing results in Bristol in the past three seasons, a trend they have to put right today.

You have to go back to 2007 for City's last victory at Ashton Gate, when Matty Fryatt and Richard Stearman scored to give them a 2-0 victory.

But since City returned to the Championship from League One, they have picked up just one point in Bristol, which came in February 2010, when Lloyd Dyer snatched a dramatic equaliser with virtually the last kick of the game. It came straight from the restart after David Clarkson had seemingly won the game for the Robins in added time.

There was to be no escape the following season when Clarkson again struck in added time to add to Brett Pitman's strike just after half-time to give the Robins the points.

City's misfortune continued last season when Stead struck a 77th minute winner to complete a five-goal thriller.

Dyer had put City ahead in the 41st minute only for Khalifa Cisse to equaliser on the stroke of half-time.

Pitman then put the hosts in front but Neil Danns, who has spent two months on loan with the Robins this season before joining Huddersfield for the rest of the campaign, grabbed an equaliser for City, only for Stead to strike two minutes later.

Kasper Schmeichel has sounded out a warning to his Leicester City team-mates ahead of this afternoon's clash with relegation-threatened Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

While City have picked up seven points from their last three league games, and sit just five points off the automatic promotion places, the Robins are embroiled in a fight for survival.

Schmeichel believes Bristol are much stronger than their positions suggests and that they are capable of finding some good form. They should not, on any account, be under-estimated.

"This will be tough, no question," he said. "They have very good players but, for whatever reason, it hasn't clicked for them this season.

"We have got to be ready because they might just click when we play them. But I think we have been professional enough for most of the season to approach the game in the right way.

"You can't look too much at league positions. Sometimes you have to think about it as just 11 versus 11 on the pitch and anything is possible.

"We have to be on our game and focused. The target is a clean sheet and, with the strike power we have got, we are very confident we can score goals."

Schmeichel is aware of City's recent record at Ashton Gate.

"We haven't done particularly well there recently," he said.

"It was 3-2 to them last season and I remember that game. They got two deflected goals. We have to change that."

City have kept 10 clean sheets so far this season, the highest number in the Championship, and Schmeichel believes shutting out a Robins side that has scored 24 goals in their 12 home league games this season will be the key to success.

"It is the foundation of any successful team," he said.

"I think we have a very good defence. There is a great understanding between us all.

"We know each other's roles in the back five and there is very good communication, lots of talking.

"That is what you need. Everyone is talking and even young Michael Keane is talking more now.

"Everyone is contributing, the midfielders and the strikers are working hard, it is a big team effort.

"Then I believe we have the strikers now who are always capable of winning us games."

Bristol City boss Derek McInnes knows only too well who Leicester City's dangerman will be at Ashton Gate this afternoon.

New City striker Chris Wood started his career at the King Power Stadium in fantastic form, scoring three times in his first two games. That has come as no surprise to McInnes, who had the New Zealand international on loan from West Bromwich Albion last season.

Wood scored three times in 19 appearances for the Robins, but has scored 14 so far this season and McInnes knows he is a player his side must keep an eye on today.

"Because of his frame, everyone thinks he is a target man, but he is a lot more than that," said McInnes.

"He is also a very good scorer of goals and we always thought he would do that in a forward-thinking team that was going well.

"He scored some important goals for us last season and he always got himself in positions to do that.

"Obviously, he started this campaign brilliantly, scoring goals for Millwall.

"Now he has earned himself a very good move to Leicester, who will be in the shake-up for promotion to the Premier League at the end of the season.

"His movement is good, he can cause problems in and around the box and he will have a good partner in David Nugent.

"Leicester have a few players we will need to concentrate fully on and Chris is certainly someone we will have to be aware of."

McInnes believes City are one of the strongest sides in the Championship but hopes his relegation battlers can still cause an upset this afternoon.

"I said when we played Leicester earlier in the season that they were as good as anything in this league," he added.

"They already had a good squad of players under Sven-Goran Eriksson, and Nigel Pearson has come in and added to that.

"They have a good mixture of youth and experience, know-how and pace, and we saw the way they dispatched Huddersfield (6-1) the other week.

"If they get their tails up, Leicester can be a formidable team. But they are also a team we feel we can cause problems and beat."