Before (end of 1986) (58 seats, Elections Centre)
Other 28 · Conservative 22 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 5 · Labour 3
After (end of 1987) (58 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 27 · Other 25 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 4 · Labour 2
Ward results
College3 seats
| N. Morrison | Conservative | 0 ✓ |
| D. Prouse | Independent | 0 ✓ |
| E. Hawkins | SDP-Liberal Alliance | 0 ✓ |
Dawlish South West2 seats
| E. Lensh | Conservative | 815 |
| V. Vickerstaff | Conservative | 777 |
| L. Johns | All | 729 |