Former Breckland leader Cliff Jordan has been given a new cabinet post at Norfolk County Council in a reshuffle which sees the streamlining of several portfolios.

Council leader Derrick Murphy unveiled the changes, which will see Mr Jordan take up the efficiency portfolio at today's cabinet meeting.

The changes will see Bill Borrett move from efficiency to head up a new waste and environment portfolio, while Ann Steward will have responsibility for economic development.

Previously Mrs Steward's sustainable development role was one off the largest portfolios, and Mr Murphy said the changes recognised the brief was too unwieldy.

Instead Harry Humphrey, will take on the oversight of trading standards and community safety, as part of an extended community protection post, and Graham Plant will become cabinet member for planning and transportation, which marks a return to the previous set up.

Meanwhile James Carswell's Cabinet responsibilities for Cultural Services, Communications and Customer Service will now take in Adult Education, while David Harwood will focus on adult social services.

The cabinet portfolios held by councillors Ian Mackie (deputy leader, finance and performance), David Harwood (adult social services) and Alison Thomas (children's services) remain unaffected.

Mr Murphy denied that the shake-up was a reflection of her handling of the King's Lynn incinerator issue and said the changes recognised that the sustainable development portfolio, which was created by his predecessor Daniel Cox, was so wide ranging it needed to be reviewed.

'These changes make sense, given the scale of the projects which we face and the need for Ann to be able to drive forward the issue of economic development which is absolutely essential to Norfolk's future,' Mr Murphy said.

'Cliff Jordan is extremely experienced with a strong track record of success and the Cabinet will be strengthened through his presence. I know he will pursue the efficiency agenda with great enthusiasm and determination.'

'I believe these changes are necessary to ensure that the challenges that Norfolk and its people face are fully addressed as we move forward.'

For Mr Jordan, who had been chairman of the corporate resources overview and scrutiny panel, and who had been linked to previous rebellions against former leaders Daniel Cox and Alison King, the announcment caps a remarkable return to the political front line.

'The council has got a huge mountain to climb and the leader wanted me to use my experience to see whether we could increased the income coming into the council to protect services,' Mr Jordan said. 'That's what we did at Breckland and this is to replicate what we did at Breckland but on a much larger scale. There's nothing I won't be looking at, I shall be looking at the whole piece.'