Before (end of 1979) (43 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 18 · Conservative 12 · The Liberal Party 7 · Other 6
After (end of 1980) (43 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 24 · Conservative 9 · Other 6 · The Liberal Party 4
Ward results
Belper East1 seat · turnout 35.5%
| J. Harrison | Labour | 1,363 |
| C. Hennessy | Independent | 656 |
HEAGE & AMBERGATE1 seat · turnout 56.6%
| D. Williams | Labour | 1,041 |
| K. Hartshorne | Independent | 1,021 |
Heanor & Loscoe1 seat · turnout 37.5%
| S. Mellors | Labour | 891 |
| J. McCulloch | LIB | 620 |
Heanor East1 seat · turnout 29.5%
| G. Holmes | Labour | 799 |
| R. Briggs | Independent | 446 |
Ironville & Riddings1 seat · turnout 42.8%
| B. Davis | Labour | 812 |
| J. Roberts | LIB | 762 |
Langley Mill & Aldercar1 seat · turnout 28.9%
| B. Smith | Labour | 733 |
| R. Burns | Independent | 416 |
Ripley & Marehay1 seat · turnout 45.2%
| G. Carlile | Labour | 1,003 |
| M. Maycock | LIB | 848 |
SOMERCOTES1 seat · turnout 33.3%
| H. Smith | Labour | 822 |
| B. Johnson | LIB | 598 |