Before (end of 1978) (54 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 26 · Other 21 · Labour 4 · The Liberal Party 3
After (end of 1979) (54 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 36 · Other 12 · Labour 4 · The Liberal Party 2
Ward results
Denmead1 seat
| W. Vernon-Harcourt | Conservative | 0 ✓ |
Itchen Valley1 seat · turnout 75.7%
| M. Pitt | Conservative | 746 |
| A. Bushnell | Labour | 196 |
Littleton & Harestock1 seat · turnout 77.6%
| A. Epps | Conservative | 1,081 |
| N. O'Neill | Independent | 580 |
| M. Duncalfe | Labour | 322 |
St Barnabas1 seat
| J. Rider | Conservative | 1,202 |
| A. Mitchell | LIB | 1,148 |
| E. Cloyne | Labour | 738 |
St. John & All Saints1 seat · turnout 76.3%
| B. Williams | Labour | 1,720 |
| M. Jamieson | Conservative | 1,467 |