When Councillor Val Bryant's husband got a job as Hertfordshire's county archaeologist 40 years ago, the couple left their home in Manchester and never looked back.

While it was Hitchin's Anglo-Saxon origins that brought Councillor Bryant down south, it was her love for the town – and later the Hitchin Bearton ward – that made her stay.

A member of North Herts Council since 2018, the former teacher was elected by her peers as North Herts Council leader on 13 January, and she says her first six months have been busy to say the least.

"When Daniel, who was the leader, used to say to me 'I'm going to a meeting', you can't appreciate that actually is an hour or two of listening, contributing and assessing," she said.

And it doesn't look like things will be getting quieter anytime soon. Last month, it was announced that Hertfordshire's 11 councils are set to be abolished within two years and replaced with four unitary authorities – a development the councillor is heavily in favour of.

"It's really exciting," she said. "When I was out canvassing last weekend, which was at Cambridge Road, when we asked residents their concerns, a lot of them are to do with the fact we've got two councils. I think getting everything under one council would be really good for residents.

"We'll be able to take part in bigger schemes, think bigger, and give more to residents. And I think that four unitaries is the best because it's more local."

Hertfordshire currently operates under a two-tier system, consisting of a county council that provides services such as education and social care, and 10 district and borough councils that deliver more local services such as waste collection and parking.

Transitioning into four unitary authorities means that these services will become more streamlined, with each unitary authority delivering local government services within its boundary.

Hitchin will become part of the Central Hertfordshire authority, which will serve most of the communities currently under North Herts Council wards.

"We've seen a map of [the Central Hertfordshire authority] with the hospitals and the university, and it's actually what we live, particularly what young people live," she said.

"They would recognise it as being their area, and it will be really good for jobs, and we'll be given authority within our unitship, but we'll be able to also make relationships and boost employment."

Elections to the new councils are expected in 2027, with the new councils set to take over responsibility for local government from April 2028.

But what does Councillor Bryant want the new authority to focus on? Housing, social care, and children's services are the "three main areas" at the top of her list.

She hopes that the new structure will allow the council to group these services together, assessing housing services alongside wellbeing needs for example, and stated that housing will be "really big" for the new authority.

"Our housing stock was sold off by the Conservatives 10 years ago. We are reliant on the residential agents at Settle, and so on, to provide housing. But with the unitary, we're joining with two councils that have housing revenue accounts, and so we will be able to actually build council houses, for instance."

Concerns about this governmental change centre on the potential impact on local services, but Cllr Bryant suspects residents "won't actually notice very much at all".

"The services that they get now, those contracts will continue," she said. "We can't just stop mid contract and change everything."

In fact, ensuring a smooth transition will be her main priority for the rest of the year.

"It is essential that I enable our staff at North Herts Council to view the changes associated with becoming part of the Central Hertfordshire unitary authority as positive and for me to lead them in a calm and supportive manner. And that residents do not notice even a sidestep in the quality of the services they will receive," she said.

In the meantime, there are numerous local developments that the council is working on, such as the much-anticipated development of Churchgate – currently seeking a developer – and Hitchin River Walk, where Cllr Bryant confirmed railings featuring wildlife imagery will be installed.

Charnwood House has suffered a series of failed letting attempts, but Councillor Bryant confirmed that the agents BTG Eddisons have been appointed and that there is a momentum towards identifying a community occupier for the property.

"Draft particulars are being finalised plus supporting information, which will also outline the application process for potential bidders," she said. "It is envisaged that marketing will go live over summer 2026."

And when it comes to how the appointment of new Prime Minister, and fellow Manchester local, Andy Burnham, will impact local government, the councillor believes it is Burnham's lived experience with devolution that will have the most impact.

"I think devolution, which is actually what this is all about…he has lived that, so he knows what the possibilities are, and he certainly will continue with that in this country. And so I think we can be sure that we will be getting that morality.

"[Manchester] has a very very optimistic vibe, and I'd love to have this vibe in this area. Andy is a person who decides what he wants and takes people with him, and he is ambitious. I think that's what we need in this country."