Before (end of 1978) (78 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 43 · Conservative 32 · Other 3 · The Liberal Party 0
After (end of 1979) (78 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 44 · Conservative 31 · Other 3 · The Liberal Party 0
Ward results
No. 10 (Wallsend: Northumberland & Wallsend)1 seat · turnout 75.3%
| W. Savory | Labour | 3,248 ✓ |
| D. Stevens | Conservative | 1,386 |
No. 12 (Whitley Bay: Central-Marden- Rockcliffe)1 seat · turnout 73.4%
| D. Ard | Conservative | 2,256 ✓ |
| R. Compton | Labour | 1,522 |
| K. Woodhead | The Liberal Party | 592 |
No. 20 (Longbenton: Camperdown & Holystone)1 seat · turnout 73.7%
| I. Cummings | Labour | 5,453 ✓ |
| L. Flynn | Conservative | 2,880 |
No. 7 (Wallsend: Buddle & Holy Cross)1 seat · turnout 75.2%
| M. Huscroft | Independent | 2,984 |
| S. Byers | Labour | 1,704 |
| V. Hope | Conservative | 613 |
No. 8 (Wallsend: Carville-Hadrian-Willington Quay)1 seat · turnout 70.0%
| A. McManus | Labour | 2,801 ✓ |
| K. Johnston | Conservative | 949 |