Before (end of 1987) (38 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 24 · Conservative 13 · Other 1 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 0
After (end of 1988) (38 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 23 · Conservative 14 · Other 1 · Liberal Democrats 0
Ward results
Central1 seat
| T. Smith | Labour | 974 |
| J. Tate | Conservative | 409 |
| G. Elborough | Ind Lab | 384 |
Dalton North1 seat
| M. Martindale | Labour | 763 |
| E. White | Conservative | 484 |
| D. Steel | Independent | 454 |
Dalton South1 seat
| J. Biggins | Labour | 761 |
| J. Slade | Conservative | 690 |
Hawcoat1 seat
| G. Smith | Conservative | 1,541 |
| H. Siddall | Labour | 467 |
Hindpool1 seat
| B. Warriner | Labour | 986 |
| M. Kerr | Ind Lab | 421 |
| P. Clafton | Conservative | 406 |
Newbarns1 seat
| P. Smith | Conservative | 975 |
| D. Thomas | Labour | 654 |
| B. Mounsey | Ind Lab | 445 |
Ormsgill1 seat
| J. Quinn | Labour | 734 |
| O. Atkinson | Ind Lab | 477 |
| I. Scott | Conservative | 443 |
Risedale2 seats
| J. Wadsworth | Labour | 1,142 |
| E. Willacy | Labour | 1,070 |
| K. Collins | Conservative | 401 |
Walney North1 seat
| E. Garside | Labour | 1,070 |
| W. Crosthwaite | Conservative | 584 |
Walney South1 seat
| G. McCormack | Labour | 899 |
| D. Beale | Conservative | 786 |
| H. Gahan | Ind Lab | 343 |