Before (end of 1996) (22 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 11 · Other 5 · Conservative 3 · Labour 3
After (end of 1997) (22 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 11 · Other 5 · Conservative 3 · Labour 3
Ward results
Egdon Heath1 seat · turnout 72.2%
| J. Briggs | Liberal Democrats | 1,804 ✓ |
| J. Sullivan | Conservative | 1,736 |
| S Shinn | Labour | 1,227 |
Lytchett1 seat · turnout 76.6%
| P Gainsford | Liberal Democrats | 2,821 ✓ |
| J Pay | Conservative | 2,567 |
| R. Cade | Labour | 1,053 |
Purbeck Hills1 seat · turnout 76.9%
| P. Duffy | Liberal Democrats | 2,129 ✓ |
| Bond M. | Conservative | 1,453 |
| M Lefley | Labour | 367 |
Swanage1 seat · turnout 70.3%
| C. Sutton | Liberal Democrats | 2,120 ✓ |
| Denise Jones | Conservative | 2,012 |
| D. Smith | Labour | 1,271 |
Wareham1 seat · turnout 74.7%
| D. Budd | Liberal Democrats | 2,174 ✓ |
| R Anderson | Conservative | 1,955 |
| J. Tighe | Labour | 1,035 |