Before (end of 1978) (34 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 24 · Labour 9 · The Liberal Party 1 · Other 0
After (end of 1979) (34 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 22 · Labour 8 · The Liberal Party 2 · Other 2
Ward results
Alphington2 seats · turnout 69.7%
| P. Spencer | Conservative | 1,675 |
| G. Hadlett | Conservative | 1,537 |
| R. Red | LIB | 1,059 |
| R. Ruffle | LIB | 1,043 |
| A. Male | Labour | 834 |
Barton2 seats · turnout 71.0%
| J Coates | Conservative | 1,776 |
| B. Bess | Conservative | 1,703 |
| P Edwards | Labour | 1,196 |
| G Clarke | Labour | 1,141 |
| M. Smith | LIB | 709 |
Countess Wear2 seats · turnout 78.4%
| W. Rowe | Conservative | 2,016 |
| R. Keast | Conservative | 1,854 |
| R. Boyce | Labour | 1,052 |
| R. Deakin | Labour | 803 |
| R. Marsh | LIB | 471 |
| S. Smith | LIB | 288 |
Cowick2 seats · turnout 76.7%
| J. Levers | Conservative | 1,409 |
| R. Corbett-Winder | Conservative | 1,211 |
| R. Palmer | LIB | 955 |
| C. Macdonald | LIB | 851 |
| H. Slack | Labour | 724 |
| D. Gander | Labour | 719 |
Exwick2 seats · turnout 70.4%
| R. Slack | Labour | 1,778 |
| R. Long | Ind Lab | 1,472 |
| J. Cloke | Conservative | 1,350 |
| G. Phillips | Conservative | 1,303 |
| J. Taverner | Labour | 1,119 |
| A. Russell | LIB | 560 |
Heavitree2 seats · turnout 73.2%
| S. Honeywill | LIB | 1,669 |
| A. Williamson | LIB | 1,423 |
| P. Everson | Conservative | 1,222 |
| J. Hawken | Conservative | 1,040 |
| L. Whiting | Labour | 684 |
Pennsylvania2 seats · turnout 72.8%
| W. Daw | Conservative | 1,878 ✓ |
| E. Whiteway | Conservative | 1,782 ✓ |
| R. Whitchurch | LIB | 645 |
| A. Campbell | Ecol | 590 |
| A. Kemp | Labour | 563 |
| S. Vokes | LIB | 562 |
| A. Petrie | Labour | 473 |
Pinhoe2 seats · turnout 77.0%
| J Landers | Conservative | 1,940 |
| J. Pollitt | Conservative | 1,747 |
| I. Ford | Labour | 1,132 |
| P. Shepherd | Labour | 1,030 |
| J. Pearson | LIB | 440 |
| A. Nash | LIB | 425 |
Polsloe2 seats · turnout 71.5%
| M. Hopkins | Conservative | 1,365 |
| B. Wedgery | Conservative | 1,298 |
| D. Steel | Labour | 873 |
| S. Spence | Labour | 871 |
| G. Hancock | LIB | 544 |
| A. Foot | LIB | 514 |
Rougemont2 seats · turnout 70.0%
| J. Richardson | Conservative | 1,246 |
| T. Vine | Conservative | 1,106 |
| J. Odoni | Labour | 813 |
| N. Wills | Labour | 777 |
| R. Stephenson | LIB | 412 |
| R. Nuttall | LIB | 357 |
St Thomas2 seats · turnout 74.0%
| N. Long | Labour | 1,261 |
| W. Hicks | Conservative | 1,072 |
| M. Rich | Labour | 962 |
| G. Gill | Conservative | 925 |
| K. Thomas | LIB | 383 |
| S. Lawson | LIB | 378 |
St. Leonards2 seats · turnout 75.2%
| R. Van Oppen | Conservative | 1,546 |
| J. Davis | Conservative | 1,510 |
| D. Nation | LIB | 1,356 |
| J. Foot | LIB | 1,091 |
| G. Hampson | Labour | 503 |
St. Matthews2 seats · turnout 64.2%
| N. Kirk | Conservative | 1,228 |
| Y. Henson | Conservative | 1,217 |
| J Lloyd | Labour | 1,115 |
| J. Vincent | Labour | 967 |
| T. Revesz | LIB | 556 |
Stoke Hill2 seats · turnout 72.3%
| A. Golant | Labour | 1,559 |
| P. Spoerer | Labour | 1,528 |
| B. Harwood | Conservative | 1,096 |
| E. Heath | Conservative | 1,037 |
| J. Hicks | LIB | 413 |
| D. Lambert | LIB | 403 |
Topsham2 seats · turnout 67.4%
| M. Parsons | Independent | 2,446 |
| D. Stafford | Conservative | 1,637 |
| R. Oke | LIB | 350 |
| M. Bialyk | Labour | 277 |
Whipton2 seats · turnout 72.7%
| P. Hutchings | Labour | 1,740 |
| V. Long | Labour | 1,569 |
| B. Taylor | Conservative | 1,196 |
| V. Thompson | Conservative | 1,011 |
| E. Nation | LIB | 396 |
Wonford2 seats · turnout 66.5%
| I. Johns | Labour | 2,047 |
| M. O'Callaghan | Labour | 1,930 |
| J. Morrish | LIB | 609 |
| T. Mead | Conservative | 488 |
| Owens G. | Conservative | 413 |