Before (end of 1985) (45 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 19 · Conservative 18 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 8 · Other 0
After (end of 1986) (45 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 26 · Conservative 12 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 7 · Other 0
Ward results
Acomb1 seat · turnout 47.8%
| D. Horton | Labour | 1,194 ✓ |
| R. Flacher | Conservative | 809 |
| M. Brookes | Lib/Sdp | 431 |
| A. Dunnett | Green | 102 |
Beckfield1 seat · turnout 50.5%
| J James | Labour | 1,070 ✓ |
| J. Lynch | Conservative | 929 |
| R. Anderson | Lib/Sdp | 663 |
Bishophill1 seat · turnout 46.0%
| D Merrett | Labour | 1,135 |
| D. Alexander | Conservative | 677 |
| J. Agar | Lib/Sdp | 342 |
Bootham1 seat · turnout 40.9%
| K. King | Labour | 1,404 |
| Crossley L. | Conservative | 436 |
| M. Gagen | Lib/Sdp | 297 |
Clifton1 seat · turnout 48.4%
| H Perry | Labour | 1,166 ✓ |
| A. Bond | Conservative | 963 |
| S. Gildener | Lib/Sdp | 467 |
Fishergate1 seat · turnout 52.2%
| C. Haines | Labour | 1,275 ✓ |
| D Thornton | Conservative | 1,085 |
| T. Emmans | Lib/Sdp | 437 |
Foxwood1 seat · turnout 41.1%
| S. Auckland | Lib/Sdp | 1,635 ✓ |
| B. Walker | Labour | 598 |
| R. Youngson | Conservative | 496 |
Guildhall1 seat · turnout 44.0%
| P. McIvor | Labour | 1,191 |
| J. Yeomans | Conservative | 802 |
| M. Reynolds | Lib/Sdp | 429 |
Heworth1 seat · turnout 52.2%
| M. Sherwood | Labour | 1,148 ✓ |
| M. Bartram | Conservative | 857 |
| L. Marsh | Lib/Sdp | 820 |
Knavesmire1 seat · turnout 52.0%
| P. Roxburgh | Labour | 1,232 |
| L. Hargrave | Conservative | 1,019 |
| B. Eales | Lib/Sdp | 346 |
Micklegate1 seat · turnout 58.1%
| G Dean | Conservative | 1,316 ✓ |
| R. Dick | Labour | 917 |
| D. Makin | Lib/Sdp | 814 |
Monk1 seat · turnout 53.7%
| W. Rich | Lib/Sdp | 1,050 |
| W. Robinson | Conservative | 920 |
| P. Kind | Labour | 893 |
Walmgate1 seat · turnout 40.1%
| D Wilde | Labour | 1,098 ✓ |
| P. Thompson | Conservative | 559 |
| R. Reed | Lib/Sdp | 394 |
| W. Castle | Green | 72 |
Westfield1 seat · turnout 48.5%
| C. Fairclough | Lib/Sdp | 1,179 ✓ |
| C. Jackson | Labour | 901 |
| A Potter | Conservative | 270 |
| G. Gaunt | Independent | 36 |