Before (end of 1996) (42 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 19 · Conservative 12 · Other 7 · Labour 4
After (end of 1997) (42 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 19 · Conservative 12 · Other 7 · Labour 4
Ward results
Dunmow1 seat · turnout 75.4%
| Westcott D. | Conservative | 4,604 ✓ |
| G. Powers | Liberal Democrats | 2,805 |
| W McCarthy | Labour | 1,766 |
Saffron Walden1 seat · turnout 76.4%
| R. Chambers | Conservative | 4,290 ✓ |
| R. Green | Labour | 3,450 |
| J Lefever | Liberal Democrats | 3,334 |
| R Tyler | Independent | 653 |
| G Lucy | Green | 212 |
Stansted1 seat · turnout 75.0%
| R Wallace | Conservative | 4,298 ✓ |
| M. Caton | Liberal Democrats | 4,020 |
| A Pounds | Labour | 1,579 |
Thaxted1 seat · turnout 75.1%
| J. Whitehead | Conservative | 4,315 ✓ |
| D. Morgan | Liberal Democrats | 3,221 |
| G Murray | Labour | 1,416 |