Before (end of 1985) (36 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 16 · Labour 14 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 5 · Other 1
After (end of 1986) (36 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 15 · Conservative 14 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 6 · Other 1
Ward results
Pennsylvania1 seat · turnout 50.7%
| J. Holman | Lib/Sdp | 1,127 |
| J Coates | Conservative | 938 |
| M. Taylor | Labour | 310 |
Pinhoe1 seat · turnout 56.3%
| J Landers | Conservative | 1,111 |
| R. Northcott | Labour | 879 |
| J. Pearson | Lib/Sdp | 283 |
Polsloe1 seat · turnout 46.4%
| P. Shepherd | Labour | 771 |
| P. Richardson | Conservative | 673 |
| G. Branner | Lib/Sdp | 292 |
Rougemont1 seat · turnout 51.4%
| J Lloyd | Labour | 954 ✓ |
| D. Moore-Tabb | Conservative | 573 |
| P. Davies | Lib/Sdp | 376 |
| A. Giles | Green | 100 |
St David's1 seat
| J. Richardson | Conservative | 1,186 |
| J. May | Lib/Sdp | 981 |
| A. Lester | Labour | 563 |
St Loyes1 seat · turnout 48.5%
| A Parr | Conservative | 687 |
| A. Carless | Lib/Sdp | 610 |
| C. Duff | Labour | 505 |
St. Leonards1 seat · turnout 52.8%
| A Rogers | Conservative | 1,048 ✓ |
| R. Ballard | Lib/Sdp | 766 |
| R. Snowden | Labour | 353 |
| T. Canning | Green | 100 |
Stoke Hill1 seat · turnout 39.7%
| C. Shepherd | Labour | 1,040 |
| K. Gater | Conservative | 353 |
| S. Honeyball | Lib/Sdp | 251 |
Topsham1 seat · turnout 57.3%
| I. Richards | Conservative | 892 ✓ |
| B. Bowker | Independent | 475 |
| M. Rossall | Lib/Sdp | 394 |
| B. Vernon | Labour | 224 |
| J. Smith | Green | 138 |
Whipton1 seat · turnout 47.2%
| V. Long | Labour | 1,057 |
| B. Harwood | Conservative | 354 |
| A. Foot | Lib/Sdp | 205 |