Before (end of 1996) (44 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 17 · Other 15 · Liberal Democrats 10 · Labour 2
After (end of 1997) (44 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 19 · Other 14 · Liberal Democrats 9 · Labour 2
Ward results
Dartmouth Rural1 seat · turnout 73.2%
| J Mills | Conservative | 2,535 ✓ |
| J. Henshall | Liberal Democrats | 1,905 |
| Rob Hannaford | Labour | 1,509 |
Ivybridge1 seat · turnout 73.7%
| E. Mitchell | Conservative | 4,832 ✓ |
| Catherine Pannell | Liberal Democrats | 4,597 |
| D Trigger | Labour | 2,483 |
Kingsbridge Rural1 seat · turnout 75.0%
| O. Masters | Conservative | 3,944 ✓ |
| D Thorning | Liberal Democrats | 3,332 |
| S. McGinn | Labour | 1,436 |
Modbury & Salcombe1 seat · turnout 75.6%
| S. Day | Conservative | 3,573 ✓ |
| D. Flood | Liberal Democrats | 3,165 |
Totnes Rural1 seat · turnout 76.6%
| J. Pennington | Conservative | 3,074 ✓ |
| J Walker | Liberal Democrats | 2,934 |
| Betsan Evans | Labour | 2,178 |
| Andy Pratt | Green | 647 |
Wembury & Erme1 seat · turnout 76.0%
| K. Baldry | Liberal Democrats | 3,523 ✓ |
| T. Hart | Conservative | 3,273 |