Before (end of 1979) (45 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 23 · Labour 13 · The Liberal Party 9 · Other 0
After (end of 1980) (45 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 20 · Labour 15 · The Liberal Party 10 · Other 0
Ward results
Bishophill1 seat · turnout 48.0%
| R. Edwards | Labour | 812 |
| J. Cummins | LIB | 790 |
| Ashley M. | Conservative | 705 |
Bootham1 seat · turnout 38.7%
| R. Hills | Labour | 1,395 |
| K. Harris | Conservative | 471 |
| D. Hancock | LIB | 135 |
Clifton1 seat · turnout 44.5%
| P. Hendry | Labour | 1,097 |
| A. Bond | Conservative | 1,052 |
| A. Garside | LIB | 258 |
Fishergate1 seat · turnout 38.8%
| J. Long | Conservative | 1,051 |
| A. Cryans | Labour | 850 |
| M. Gagen | LIB | 174 |
Foxwood1 seat · turnout 46.9%
| D. Horwell | LIB | 1,531 |
| D. Horton | Labour | 482 |
| M. Murphy | Conservative | 437 |
Guildhall1 seat · turnout 41.3%
| D. Nicolson | Conservative | 759 |
| M. Gladwin | Labour | 717 |
| R. North | LIB | 602 |
Heworth1 seat · turnout 43.4%
| C Waite | Labour | 1,100 ✓ |
| B. Savory | Conservative | 1,025 |
| W. Moore | LIB | 156 |
| P. Evans | COMM | 27 |
Holgate1 seat · turnout 50.3%
| R. Robinson | Labour | 1,216 |
| L Daley | Conservative | 906 |
| I. Auckland | LIB | 546 |
Knavesmire1 seat · turnout 51.8%
| A. Lister | LIB | 1,043 |
| C Greaves | Conservative | 793 |
| G. Smith | Labour | 723 |
Micklegate1 seat · turnout 45.2%
| P. Booth | Conservative | 1,132 |
| J. Battersby | Labour | 1,024 |
| R. Woodward | LIB | 238 |
Monk1 seat · turnout 40.3%
| M. Heppell | Conservative | 1,188 |
| C. Adams | Labour | 749 |
| M. Harper | LIB | 174 |
Walmgate1 seat · turnout 38.8%
| B Bell | Labour | 1,153 |
| M. Bartram | Conservative | 790 |
| P. Thomas | LIB | 136 |