Before (end of 1996) (55 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 36 · Conservative 9 · Labour 6 · Other 4
After (end of 1997) (55 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 36 · Conservative 9 · Labour 6 · Other 4
Ward results
Downlands1 seat
| A. Bailey | Liberal Democrats | 4,961 ✓ |
| B. Lipscomb | Conservative | 4,446 |
| Clare McKenna | Labour | 838 |
Eastgate1 seat
| Pamela Peskett | Liberal Democrats | 3,901 ✓ |
| R Bates | Conservative | 3,371 |
| P. Davies | Labour | 2,170 |
Itchen Valley1 seat
| S. Glasspool | Conservative | 4,850 ✓ |
| C Sabine | Liberal Democrats | 4,106 |
| S George | Labour | 962 |
Meon Valley1 seat
| H. Hindson | Conservative | 6,172 ✓ |
| Margaret Scriven | Liberal Democrats | 4,144 |
| Sandra Underwood | Labour | 1,121 |
Westgate1 seat
| H Cole | Liberal Democrats | 4,354 ✓ |
| A. Saunders | Conservative | 3,562 |
| Antony Francis De Peyer | Labour | 1,703 |
| R Huggett | Independent | 92 |