Before (end of 1995) (48 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 34 · Liberal Democrats 10 · Conservative 3 · Other 1
After (end of 1996) (44 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 34 · Liberal Democrats 8 · Conservative 1 · Other 1
Ward results
Bank Hall1 seat · turnout 26.5%
| P. Bennett | Labour | 824 ✓ |
| S. Pilkington | Liberal Democrats | 132 |
| J Wyld | Conservative | 96 |
Briercliffe1 seat · turnout 25.6%
| Whittaker J. | Liberal Democrats | 722 ✓ |
| J Holder | Labour | 392 |
Brunshaw1 seat · turnout 28.0%
| E. Selby | Labour | 829 ✓ |
| D Tierney | Conservative | 118 |
| B Pilkington | Liberal Democrats | 117 |
Cliviger With Worsthorne1 seat · turnout 31.7%
| A Harrison | Labour | 644 ✓ |
| E Heys | Conservative | 530 |
| L. McHugh | Liberal Democrats | 206 |
Coal Clough With Deerplay1 seat · turnout 31.9%
| P. Smith | Liberal Democrats | 810 ✓ |
| J. Humphrey | Labour | 547 |
Daneshouse1 seat · turnout 66.3%
| Malik M. | Labour | 1,374 ✓ |
| Mumtaz Hussain | Liberal Democrats | 1,195 |
| R Woolnough | Independent | 135 |
Gawthorpe1 seat · turnout 26.4%
| L. Harrison | Labour | 957 ✓ |
| I. Fowler | Conservative | 196 |
Hapton With Park1 seat · turnout 23.8%
| G Lord | Labour | 776 ✓ |
| K. Kilgallon | Liberal Democrats | 304 |
Lanehead1 seat · turnout 27.4%
| S. Large | Labour | 859 ✓ |
| C Thompson | Liberal Democrats | 339 |
Lowerhouse1 seat
| P Tierney | Labour | 799 ✓ |
| L. Whittaker | Liberal Democrats | 370 |
| Robinson B. | Conservative | 132 |
Queensgate1 seat · turnout 32.0%
| M. Najib | Labour | 721 ✓ |
| M McHugh | Liberal Democrats | 468 |
| E. Parker | Conservative | 127 |
Rosehill1 seat · turnout 35.9%
| E. Tate | Conservative | 768 ✓ |
| S. Reynolds | Labour | 727 |
Whittlefield With Ightenhill1 seat · turnout 26.9%
| M. Rogerson | Labour | 807 ✓ |
| G. Mallett | Conservative | 536 |