Before (end of 1997) (44 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 34 · Liberal Democrats 8 · Conservative 1 · Other 1
After (end of 1998) (48 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 31 · Liberal Democrats 9 · Other 6 · Conservative 2
Ward results
Bank Hall1 seat · turnout 22.2%
| R Chadwick | Independent | 501 ✓ |
| A. Aziz | Labour | 412 |
Briercliffe1 seat · turnout 22.1%
| M. Lishman | Liberal Democrats | 683 ✓ |
| S Dumon | Labour | 325 |
Brunshaw1 seat · turnout 21.4%
| Adam Rae | Labour | 551 ✓ |
| L. Whittaker | Liberal Democrats | 280 |
Cliviger With Worsthorne1 seat · turnout 26.7%
| P Walsh | Labour | 618 ✓ |
| D Heginbotham | Conservative | 567 |
Coal Clough With Deerplay1 seat · turnout 22.8%
| Peter McCann | Liberal Democrats | 662 ✓ |
| J Ormerod | Labour | 322 |
Daneshouse1 seat · turnout 61.0%
| R. Khan | Liberal Democrats | 1,255 ✓ |
| S. Chaudhary | Labour | 1,231 |
Fulledge1 seat · turnout 21.7%
| D Halsall | Labour | 626 ✓ |
| C Thompson | Liberal Democrats | 128 |
| D Tierney | Conservative | 79 |
Gawthorpe1 seat · turnout 19.0%
| A. Hudson | Labour | 546 ✓ |
| L. Dowding | Conservative | 189 |
| M McHugh | Liberal Democrats | 140 |
Hapton With Park1 seat · turnout 18.7%
| J Harbour | Labour | 532 ✓ |
| C. Howarth | Liberal Democrats | 383 |
Lanehead1 seat · turnout 19.1%
| Judith Cavanagh | Labour | 559 ✓ |
| M. McCann | Liberal Democrats | 294 |
Lowerhouse1 seat
| E. Fisk | Independent | 556 ✓ |
| Steve Holgate | Labour | 311 |
| Robinson B. | Conservative | 193 |
Queensgate1 seat · turnout 21.6%
| P. Kenyon | Labour | 497 ✓ |
| A Holder | Independent | 306 |
| M. Islam | Liberal Democrats | 113 |