Before (end of 1996) (39 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 29 · Labour 6 · Other 2 · Conservative 2
After (end of 1997) (39 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 28 · Labour 6 · Conservative 3 · Other 2
Ward results
Kingston Buci1 seat · turnout 72.3%
| S. Little | Liberal Democrats | 1,859 ✓ |
| Sims P. | Conservative | 1,639 |
| Nigel Robert Sweet | Labour | 1,491 |
Lancing1 seat · turnout 74.2%
| Carol Elaine Robinson | Liberal Democrats | 2,866 ✓ |
| S Craghill | Conservative | 2,070 |
| J Largue | Labour | 1,271 |
Saltings1 seat · turnout 67.7%
| G. Jones | Conservative | 2,562 ✓ |
| J. Robinson | Liberal Democrats | 1,883 |
| R Knight | Labour | 1,422 |
Shoreham1 seat · turnout 76.6%
| I. Elliott | Conservative | 3,109 ✓ |
| A Burtenshaw | Liberal Democrats | 2,094 |
| G. Howitt | Labour | 1,463 |
Sompting1 seat · turnout 71.6%
| M. Brookes | Liberal Democrats | 1,992 ✓ |
| M McCarthy | Conservative | 1,492 |
| E Luxford | Labour | 1,331 |