Before (end of 1987) (60 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 24 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 23 · Labour 9 · Other 4
After (end of 1988) (60 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 24 · Conservative 24 · Labour 8 · Other 4
Ward results
Berechurch1 seat · turnout 44.8%
| J. Stevens | SLD | 1,140 |
| G. Prior | Labour | 984 |
| E. Parsons | Conservative | 606 |
Castle1 seat · turnout 47.9%
| R. Cole | SLD | 947 |
| E. Humphreys | Conservative | 896 |
| H. Winter | Labour | 617 |
Dedham1 seat · turnout 58.8%
| G. Williams | SLD | 485 |
| G. Spray | Conservative | 390 |
| S. Worgan | Labour | 24 |
East Donyland1 seat · turnout 56.5%
| Sanderson J. | Conservative | 551 |
| B. Wilding | Labour | 302 |
| B. Woodward | SLD | 115 |
Fordham1 seat · turnout 48.3%
| D. Cannon | Conservative | 449 |
| A. Sullivan | Labour | 127 |
| G. Chase | SLD | 103 |
Harbour1 seat · turnout 38.3%
| J. Bird | Labour | 1,135 ✓ |
| M. Coyne | Conservative | 518 |
| P. Blandon | SLD | 461 |
| D. Smith | Independent | 48 |
Lexden1 seat · turnout 54.7%
| S. Lewis | Conservative | 1,188 |
| B. Williamson | SLD | 1,056 |
| J. Crawford | Labour | 123 |
Marks Tey1 seat · turnout 43.8%
| R. Gower | Conservative | 454 |
| G. Ambridge | SLD | 268 |
| M. Lee | Labour | 190 |
Mile End1 seat · turnout 37.8%
| P. Borges | Conservative | 884 |
| W. Reid | SLD | 376 |
| A. Hayden-Case | Labour | 253 |
New Town1 seat · turnout 43.8%
| R. Russell | SLD | 1,373 |
| S. Benedetti | Labour | 417 |
| J. Clarke | Conservative | 223 |
Prettygate1 seat · turnout 50.8%
| M. Hunt | SLD | 1,295 |
| R. Stevenson | Conservative | 1,001 |
| G. Thompson | Labour | 256 |
St. Andrews1 seat · turnout 27.3%
| P. Truscott | Labour | 1,294 |
| E. Paice | Conservative | 746 |
| J. Muffett | SLD | 421 |
St. Annes1 seat · turnout 45.8%
| M. Frank | Labour | 922 |
| G. Gawthrop | Conservative | 702 |
| M. Sheehan | SLD | 592 |
St. Marys1 seat · turnout 41.0%
| J. Brooks | Conservative | 1,209 |
| R. Watkins | SLD | 426 |
| R. Turp | Labour | 407 |
