Before (end of 1997) (60 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 48 · Conservative 6 · Liberal Democrats 6 · Other 0
After (end of 1998) (60 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 47 · Conservative 8 · Liberal Democrats 5 · Other 0
Ward results
Astley Bridge1 seat
| J. Walsh | Conservative | 1,742 ✓ |
| Hynes S. | Labour | 1,526 |
| P. Howarth | Liberal Democrats | 285 |
Blackrod1 seat
| J. Monaghan | Labour | 987 ✓ |
| J. Barrow | Conservative | 743 |
| L Watkinson | Ind Lab | 553 |
| D Watts | Liberal Democrats | 267 |
Bradshaw1 seat
| A. Osborn | Conservative | 1,242 ✓ |
| Lynda Byrne | Labour | 1,240 |
| Mary Eidlow | Liberal Democrats | 327 |
Breightmet1 seat
| Madeline Murray | Labour | 1,155 ✓ |
| P. Brierley | Conservative | 565 |
| E. Hill | Liberal Democrats | 214 |
Bromley Cross1 seat
| D. Carr | Conservative | 2,028 ✓ |
| Elaine Sherrington | Labour | 1,041 |
| C. Atty | Liberal Democrats | 287 |
Burnden1 seat
| Prentice Howarth | Labour | 1,223 ✓ |
| S. Jackson | Conservative | 359 |
| D. Connor | Liberal Democrats | 264 |
Central1 seat
| J. Noble | Labour | 1,355 ✓ |
| L. Beresford | Conservative | 411 |
| K. Watts | Liberal Democrats | 127 |
| R Allen | Independent | 81 |
Daubhill1 seat
| G. Harkin | Labour | 1,055 ✓ |
| F. Taylor | Conservative | 368 |
| L. Greensitt | Liberal Democrats | 181 |
| D. Kelly | SOC LAB | 64 |
Deane-cum-Heaton1 seat
| C. Shaw | Conservative | 2,184 ✓ |
| J Lavin | Labour | 1,186 |
| I Greenhalgh | Liberal Democrats | 446 |
Farnworth1 seat
| P. Johnston | Labour | 903 ✓ |
| Margaret Rothwell | Liberal Democrats | 197 |
| P Bonomy | Conservative | 180 |
| W. Kelly | SOC LAB | 143 |
Halliwell1 seat
| J. Kilcoyne | Labour | 1,353 ✓ |
| J Evans | Conservative | 414 |
| S. Howarth | Liberal Democrats | 356 |
| Results of | — | 0 |
Harper Green1 seat
| L. Williamson | Labour | 1,012 ✓ |
| Sheila Kesler | Conservative | 266 |
| Wendy Connor | Liberal Democrats | 154 |
| W. Kelly | SOC LAB | 152 |
Horwich1 seat
| R. Ronson | Liberal Democrats | 1,963 ✓ |
| S. Pasquill | Labour | 1,005 |
| I Cooper | Conservative | 598 |
Hulton Park1 seat
| E. Hyland | Labour | 2,156 ✓ |
| M. Perks | Conservative | 1,363 |
| C Higson | Ind Con | 511 |
| D. Gradwell | Liberal Democrats | 421 |
Kearsley1 seat
| Paula Spencer | Labour | 1,023 ✓ |
| J. Rothwell | Liberal Democrats | 1,015 |
| J. Tyler | Conservative | 193 |
Little Lever1 seat
| A. Connell | Labour | 1,498 ✓ |
| D. Bailey | Conservative | 855 |
| W. Crook | Liberal Democrats | 220 |
Smithills1 seat
| Roger Mark Hayes | Liberal Democrats | 1,676 ✓ |
| M Ord | Labour | 567 |
| D. Bagnall | Conservative | 483 |
Tonge1 seat
| F. White | Labour | 1,499 ✓ |
| S. Lever | Conservative | 567 |
| M. Whitaker | Liberal Democrats | 182 |
Westhoughton1 seat
| D. Chadwick | Labour | 924 ✓ |
| D. Wilkinson | Liberal Democrats | 905 |
| S. Wallen | Conservative | 259 |