Before (end of 1995) (40 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 22 · Labour 8 · Conservative 7 · Other 3
After (end of 1996) (40 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 23 · Labour 11 · Other 4 · Conservative 2
Ward results
Ashingdon1 seat
| J. Hall | Liberal Democrats | 434 ✓ |
| L. Phillips | Conservative | 318 |
| C Stephenson | Labour | 133 |
Grange & Rawreth1 seat · turnout 33.4%
| P. Beckers | Liberal Democrats | 648 |
| D Rossi | Labour | 498 |
| R. Adams | Conservative | 378 |
Hawkwell East1 seat · turnout 29.0%
| B Ayling | Liberal Democrats | 818 |
| Jim Dickson | Labour | 439 |
| L. Hungate | Conservative | 392 |
Hawkwell West1 seat
| G. Plackett | Labour | 452 ✓ |
| Jan Mason | RES | 279 |
| T. Fawell | Conservative | 235 |
| K Saunders | Liberal Democrats | 114 |
Hockley Central1 seat
| V Hutchings | RES | 346 ✓ |
| P Webster | Conservative | 263 |
| J. Ford | Labour | 100 |
| G Carr | Liberal Democrats | 53 |
Hockley East1 seat · turnout 37.6%
| A. Hutchings | RES | 748 |
| D. Thompson | Labour | 248 |
| C. Hungate | Conservative | 156 |
Hockley West1 seat · turnout 38.1%
| E. Hart | Conservative | 375 |
| D. Ball | Liberal Democrats | 241 |
| B. Guyett | RES | 127 |
| D Ford | Labour | 102 |
Hullbridge Riverside1 seat · turnout 32.9%
| Clive Morgan | Labour | 633 |
| T. Chapman | Conservative | 267 |
| M Pearson | Liberal Democrats | 97 |
Hullbridge South1 seat · turnout 30.4%
| G Angus | Labour | 432 |
| J Spillane | Conservative | 159 |
| D. Byrne | Liberal Democrats | 91 |
Rayleigh Central1 seat · turnout 33.3%
| Harris N. | Liberal Democrats | 543 |
| D. Lawton | Conservative | 247 |
| J Fielding | Labour | 168 |
Rochford St. Andrews1 seat · turnout 35.2%
| M. Vince | Labour | 359 |
| R. Amner | Conservative | 308 |
| R Prestige | Liberal Democrats | 82 |