Before (end of 1997) (40 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 23 · Labour 11 · Other 4 · Conservative 2
After (end of 1998) (40 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 18 · Labour 12 · Conservative 6 · Other 4
Ward results
Grange & Rawreth1 seat · turnout 26.6%
| R. Adams | Conservative | 467 |
| D Rossi | Labour | 420 |
| V Howlett | Liberal Democrats | 398 |
Hawkwell East1 seat · turnout 26.5%
| H. Glynn | Liberal Democrats | 860 |
| T Cutmore | Conservative | 420 |
| D. Thompson | Labour | 231 |
Hockley East1 seat
| R. Vingoe | RES | 698 ✓ |
| M. Mead | Conservative | 132 |
| L. Bain | Labour | 68 |
Hullbridge Riverside1 seat · turnout 21.1%
| D. Flack | Labour | 418 |
| J Spillane | Conservative | 239 |
Hullbridge South1 seat
| M. Stevenson | Labour | 314 ✓ |
| S. Spillane | Conservative | 161 |
Lodge1 seat · turnout 23.5%
| D. Helson | Liberal Democrats | 466 |
| J. Mockford | Conservative | 436 |
| S. Walton | Labour | 181 |
Rayleigh Central1 seat · turnout 25.1%
| J. Helson | Liberal Democrats | 324 |
| G Mockford | Conservative | 268 |
| A Popplewell | Labour | 141 |
Rochford Eastwood1 seat
| J. Ford | Labour | 229 ✓ |
| P Stanton | Liberal Democrats | 175 |
| V. Keenan | Conservative | 143 |
Rochford Roche1 seat · turnout 29.3%
| D Ford | Labour | 370 |
| M. Shelley | Conservative | 188 |
Rochford St. Andrews1 seat · turnout 31.3%
| D. Weir | Labour | 377 |
| R. Amner | Conservative | 330 |
Trinity1 seat · turnout 27.5%
| K. Gibbs | Conservative | 372 |
| P. Pearse | Liberal Democrats | 271 |
| J Fielding | Labour | 149 |
Wheatley1 seat · turnout 39.1%
| M. Webster | Conservative | 478 |
| R. Swain | Liberal Democrats | 344 |
| D. Randall | Labour | 87 |
Whitehouse1 seat · turnout 37.0%
| Webster P. | Conservative | 540 |
| M. Hunnable | Liberal Democrats | 358 |
| M. Emmons | Labour | 110 |