Before (end of 1986) (36 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 15 · Conservative 14 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 6 · Other 1
After (end of 1987) (36 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 15 · Labour 13 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 7 · Other 1
Ward results
Alphington1 seat · turnout 61.5%
| M. Brown | Lib/Sdp | 1,754 |
| R. Carr | Conservative | 1,009 |
| Ellis M. | Labour | 263 |
Countess Wear1 seat · turnout 65.8%
| W. Rowe | Conservative | 1,702 |
| D. Smith | Lib/Sdp | 422 |
| A. Male | Labour | 312 |
Cowick1 seat · turnout 57.7%
| E Knapp | Conservative | 1,009 ✓ |
| D Perrin | Labour | 776 |
| P. Thompson | Lib/Sdp | 608 |
| K. Vail | Green | 40 |
Exwick1 seat · turnout 53.5%
| P. Palmer | Lib/Sdp | 916 ✓ |
| R. Long | Labour | 904 |
| E. Cooke | Conservative | 744 |
| R Vail | Green | 66 |
Heavitree1 seat · turnout 58.0%
| H. Bound | Lib/Sdp | 1,021 ✓ |
| C. Broom | Conservative | 817 |
| J. Skinner | Labour | 348 |
| S Potter | Green | 106 |
Priory1 seat · turnout 58.0%
| M. Birmingham | Lib/Sdp | 366 |
| M. Ottaway | Conservative | 344 |
| D. Shepherd | Labour | 120 |
St Loyes1 seat · turnout 61.5%
| V. Coates | Conservative | 1,000 |
| A. Carless | Lib/Sdp | 979 |
| C. Duff | Labour | 373 |
Stoke Hill1 seat · turnout 45.8%
| A. Golant | Labour | 1,021 |
| P. Kreling | Conservative | 509 |
| S. Honeyball | Lib/Sdp | 373 |
Topsham1 seat · turnout 65.1%
| L. Parsons | Independent | 1,137 ✓ |
| D. Carr | Conservative | 772 |
| M. Rossall | Lib/Sdp | 337 |
| B. Vernon | Labour | 155 |
Whipton1 seat · turnout 49.1%
| W. Hutchings | Labour | 900 |
| G. Charters | Conservative | 455 |
| A. Foot | Lib/Sdp | 325 |
Wonford1 seat · turnout 45.7%
| M. O'Callaghan | Labour | 930 |
| N. Rowse | Lib/Sdp | 417 |
| N. Shiel | Conservative | 274 |