Before (end of 1985) (47 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 33 · Conservative 11 · Other 2 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 1
After (end of 1986) (47 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 34 · Conservative 10 · Other 2 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 1
Ward results
Brinkburn1 seat · turnout 31.1%
| H. Bishop | Labour | 727 |
| H. Johnson | Lib/Sdp | 376 |
| R. Hodgson | Conservative | 228 |
Dyke House1 seat · turnout 22.0%
| T. Lloyd | Labour | 920 |
| S. Reay | Conservative | 217 |
Fens1 seat · turnout 28.4%
| D. Stonehouse | Labour | 955 |
| B. Hunter | Conservative | 339 |
| R. McPartlin | Lib/Sdp | 234 |
Grange1 seat · turnout 34.7%
| J. Plews | Conservative | 974 |
| L. Coverdale | Labour | 398 |
| A. Hudson | Lib/Sdp | 309 |
Jackson1 seat · turnout 30.2%
| M. Kellman | Labour | 850 |
| G. Kneeshaw | Conservative | 263 |
| F. Douglas | Lib/Sdp | 181 |
Owton1 seat · turnout 31.1%
| M. Watson | Labour | 833 |
| R. Flintoff | Lib/Sdp | 466 |
Rift House1 seat · turnout 32.8%
| E. Goodall | Conservative | 698 |
| E. Butterfield | Labour | 582 |
| J. Barnett | Lib/Sdp | 189 |
Rossmere1 seat
| W. Middleton | Labour | 0 ✓ |
St. Hilda2 seats · turnout 18.8%
| J. Macrae | Labour | 795 |
| D. Bentley | Labour | 652 |
| R. Cooper | Lib/Sdp | 277 |
| M. Perrin | Conservative | 275 |
Stranton1 seat · turnout 33.8%
| M. Lennon | Labour | 657 |
| J. Stonehouse | Independent | 499 |
| R. Anderson | Lib/Sdp | 138 |
Throston2 seats · turnout 30.4%
| H. Clouth | Labour | 801 |
| J. Lynch | Labour | 738 |
| M. Rogers | Conservative | 400 |
| G. Weighill | Conservative | 380 |
| C. Kirk | Lib/Sdp | 172 |
| K. Macfadyen | Lib/Sdp | 142 |
