Before (end of 1985) (48 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 26 · Labour 19 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 2 · Other 1
After (end of 1986) (48 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 23 · Labour 21 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 3 · Other 1
Ward results
Beccles Town1 seat · turnout 43.1%
| D. Hartley | Conservative | 789 ✓ |
| E. Crisp | Lib/Sdp | 751 |
| H. Ley | Labour | 635 |
| L. Watling | Independent | 177 |
Carlton1 seat · turnout 34.7%
| J. Scarles | Conservative | 673 ✓ |
| C. Shade | Lib/Sdp | 640 |
| Y. Phipp | Labour | 412 |
| R. Allen | RES | 171 |
Gunton1 seat · turnout 47.8%
| A. Chamberlain | Lib/Sdp | 1,125 |
| N. Brighouse | Conservative | 899 |
| G. Strachan | Labour | 456 |
Harbour1 seat · turnout 29.0%
| R. Ford | Labour | 680 |
| A. Sheperd | Lib/Sdp | 482 |
Kessingland1 seat · turnout 42.1%
| B. Reader | Conservative | 680 |
| R. Jones | Labour | 609 |
| R. Jenner | Lib/Sdp | 173 |
Kirkley1 seat · turnout 38.7%
| S. Graham | Labour | 774 |
| P. Harvey | Conservative | 490 |
| J. Van Pelt | Lib/Sdp | 474 |
Lothingland1 seat · turnout 41.7%
| R. Breach | Labour | 660 |
| A. Brown | Conservative | 631 |
| A. Moles | Lib/Sdp | 423 |
Mutford1 seat · turnout 43.3%
| S. Taylor | Conservative | 259 |
| A. Jonsberg | Lib/Sdp | 165 |
| J. Spottiswoode | Labour | 134 |
Normanston1 seat · turnout 38.0%
| B. Hunter | Labour | 1,106 |
| D. Collins | Conservative | 362 |
| V. Caseley | Lib/Sdp | 301 |
Oulton Broad1 seat · turnout 44.1%
| A. Choveaux | Conservative | 1,028 |
| R. Jack | Labour | 792 |
| D. Tregloyne | Lib/Sdp | 450 |
Pakefield1 seat · turnout 40.7%
| A. Skipper | Labour | 1,090 |
| M. Gallidoro | Conservative | 787 |
| G. Carroll | Lib/Sdp | 313 |
South Elmham1 seat · turnout 57.2%
| M. Rose | Conservative | 424 |
| M. Brighton | Lib/Sdp | 290 |
| G. Dix | Labour | 84 |
Southwold1 seat · turnout 42.9%
| E. Wilkin | Conservative | 1,167 |
| S. White | Independent | 605 |
| R. Winyard | Lib/Sdp | 407 |
St. Margarets1 seat · turnout 37.2%
| A. Taylor | Labour | 1,109 |
| W. Robertson | Lib/Sdp | 466 |
| H. Boyd | Conservative | 455 |
Wainford1 seat · turnout 43.3%
| E. Torlot | Conservative | 245 |
| G. West | Lib/Sdp | 142 |
| M. Rodgers | Labour | 137 |
Whitton1 seat · turnout 40.9%
| H. Lay | Labour | 1,383 |
| F. Seabridge | Conservative | 229 |
| P. Martin | Lib/Sdp | 205 |