Before (end of 1986) (60 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 28 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 17 · Labour 11 · Other 4
After (end of 1987) (60 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 24 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 23 · Labour 9 · Other 4
Ward results
Berechurch1 seat · turnout 49.4%
| H. Davis | Lib/Sdp | 1,342 |
| R. McQuitty | Labour | 1,003 |
| E. Parsons | Conservative | 640 |
Castle1 seat · turnout 59.3%
| C. Hall | Lib/Sdp | 1,309 |
| E. Humphreys | Conservative | 1,037 |
| S. Philpin | Labour | 641 |
COPFORD & EIGHT ASH GREEN1 seat · turnout 49.9%
| C. Dymond | Conservative | 722 |
| B. Trusler | Lib/Sdp | 276 |
| S. Dick | Labour | 120 |
Great & Little Horkesley1 seat · turnout 50.3%
| A. Allan | Conservative | 540 |
| T. Hubbard | Lib/Sdp | 246 |
| L. Wood | Labour | 122 |
Great Tey1 seat · turnout 53.3%
| R. Browning | Conservative | 598 |
| G. Ambridge | Lib/Sdp | 254 |
| P. Doncaster | Labour | 73 |
Harbour1 seat · turnout 48.5%
| E. Fowler | Lib/Sdp | 994 ✓ |
| B. Wilding | Labour | 939 |
| M. Coyne | Conservative | 719 |
| D. Smith | Independent | 79 |
Lexden1 seat · turnout 58.9%
| I. Trusler | Lib/Sdp | 1,324 |
| S. Lewis | Conservative | 1,086 |
| J. Crawford | Labour | 121 |
Marks Tey1 seat · turnout 44.9%
| D. Fulford | Conservative | 942 |
| W. Reid | Alliance For Local Living (ALL) | 617 |
| A. Hayden-Case | Labour | 255 |
New Town1 seat · turnout 40.6%
| J. Coleman | Lib/Sdp | 1,090 |
| S. Benedetti | Labour | 529 |
| J. Clarke | Conservative | 355 |
Prettygate1 seat · turnout 58.0%
| R. Yates | Lib/Sdp | 1,371 |
| R. Stevenson | Conservative | 1,221 |
| G. Thompson | Labour | 341 |
Pyefleet1 seat · turnout 58.6%
| A. Parsonson | Conservative | 605 |
| P. Mills | Lib/Sdp | 139 |
| J. Brice | Labour | 77 |
Shrub End1 seat · turnout 36.4%
| K. Starling | Lib/Sdp | 1,316 |
| F. Wilkin | Labour | 526 |
| A. Stevenson | Conservative | 415 |
St. Andrews1 seat · turnout 29.9%
| J. Bayles | Labour | 1,176 |
| E. Winney | Conservative | 737 |
| P. Smith | Lib/Sdp | 729 |
St. Annes1 seat · turnout 50.6%
| E. Crunden | Lib/Sdp | 997 |
| H. Pawsey | Conservative | 864 |
| C. Pearson | Labour | 618 |
St. Johns1 seat · turnout 49.8%
| J. Baker | SDP-Liberal Alliance | 1,190 ✓ |
| B. West | Conservative | 1,116 |
| K. Hindle | Labour | 200 |
Stanway1 seat · turnout 43.7%
| J. Orpen-Smellie | Conservative | 1,087 |
| C. Sykes | Lib/Sdp | 962 |
| N. Bullen | Labour | 268 |
Tiptree1 seat · turnout 31.4%
| J. Webb | RES | 1,242 |
| P. Bowdidge | Conservative | 456 |
| D. Chappell | Labour | 202 |
West Mersea1 seat · turnout 45.0%
| J. Williams | Conservative | 1,512 |
| A. Stevens | Lib/Sdp | 685 |
| L. Shelley | Labour | 142 |
Wivenhoe1 seat · turnout 43.6%
| M. Last | Conservative | 1,283 |
| R. Newman | Labour | 1,089 |
| L. Footring | Lib/Sdp | 265 |