Before (end of 1995) (77 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 38 · Conservative 28 · Labour 6 · Other 5
After (end of 1996) (77 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 38 · Conservative 28 · Labour 6 · Other 5
Ward results
Canford Cliffs3 seats · turnout 39.8%
| P. Dean | Conservative | 2,440 ✓ |
| B. Grant-Braham | Conservative | 2,417 ✓ |
| R. Smith | Conservative | 2,365 ✓ |
| M. Gillett | Liberal Democrats | 460 |
| A. Goode | Liberal Democrats | 417 |
| S Tamman | Liberal Democrats | 398 |
| J Champness | Labour | 164 |
| Veronica Jones | Labour | 153 |
| R Wilmot | Labour | 144 |