Before (end of 1998) (33 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 19 · Other 12 · Conservative 1 · Labour 1
After (end of 1999) (33 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 16 · Liberal Democrats 10 · Other 7 · Labour 0
Ward results
Abbey2 seats · turnout 46.5%
| H. Cox | Conservative | 555 |
| D. Clarke | Conservative | 509 |
| B Redpath | Liberal Democrats | 422 |
| K Maitland-Gleed | Liberal Democrats | 410 |
| C. Upton | Independent | 140 |
| J Hanley | Labour | 68 |
| Debbie Harvey | Labour | 65 |
Blackmore2 seats · turnout 32.8%
| W. Batty-Smith | Conservative | 564 |
| R. Ash | Conservative | 528 |
| S Waite | Independent | 379 |
| R. Monksummers | Liberal Democrats | 258 |
Blandford West2 seats
| Frank Webber | Conservative | 467 ✓ |
| Sheila Chapman | Liberal Democrats | 396 ✓ |
| B Cooper | Liberal Democrats | 338 |
| J Barnes | Independent | 334 |
| J Pritchard | Labour | 229 |
| M Owen | Labour | 176 |
Bourton & District1 seat · turnout 38.4%
| G. Miller | Independent | 390 ✓ |
| M. Leach-Abolkheir | Liberal Democrats | 98 |
Bourton and District1 seat
| G. Miller | Independent | 390 |
| M. Leach-Abolkheir | Liberal Democrats | 98 |
Bulbarrow1 seat · turnout 39.7%
| M. Bignell | Liberal Democrats | 196 |
| J Haynes | Conservative | 169 |
| C. Nelson | Labour | 42 |
Cranborne Chase1 seat
| Martin Oliver | Independent | 432 ✓ |
| P. Mead | Liberal Democrats | 118 |
| M. Evans | Independent | 80 |
| T. Kent | Labour | 25 |
Gillingham Town1 seat
| S Day | Liberal Democrats | 142 ✓ |
| V Cockarill | Conservative | 134 |
| R. Hussey | Independent | 122 |
Hill Forts2 seats
| G Spencer | Liberal Democrats | 533 ✓ |
| Stephen Hitchings | Liberal Democrats | 506 ✓ |
| C. Adey | Conservative | 481 |
| C Fraser | Conservative | 478 |
| M MacDonald | Labour | 75 |
| L Van Stokkum | Labour | 56 |
Hills & Vales1 seat · turnout 53.0%
| I. Campbell | Conservative | 377 |
| G. Tapper | Liberal Democrats | 294 |
| R. Frost | Independent | 21 |
Lodbourne1 seat
| D Tucker | Liberal Democrats | 201 ✓ |
| L. Peevers | Labour | 127 |
| H. Brown | Conservative | 110 |
Lydden Vale1 seat · turnout 35.0%
| D Adami | Conservative | 226 |
| Yeomans D. | Liberal Democrats | 159 |
Marnhull1 seat
| J Gowanlock | Conservative | 319 ✓ |
| Cora Bone | Independent | 316 |
| E Garnsworthy | Liberal Democrats | 133 |
Portman1 seat
| John Tory | Independent | 306 ✓ |
| D Staines | Labour | 176 |
| Anne Swann | Liberal Democrats | 88 |
Riversdale1 seat · turnout 44.9%
| R. Moyle | Conservative | 330 |
| Susan Bennett | Liberal Democrats | 210 |
| D. Wardleworth | Labour | 69 |
Shaftesbury Central1 seat · turnout 42.9%
| D. Beer | Liberal Democrats | 327 |
| G. Tully | Conservative | 160 |
Shaftesbury Christy1 seat · turnout 33.8%
| R. Thomas | Liberal Democrats | 318 |
| B. Fitz-Johnson | Conservative | 193 |
The Beacon1 seat
| A Kay | Conservative | 306 ✓ |
| S Rix | Liberal Democrats | 97 |
The Lower Tarrants1 seat
| D Whitehead | Conservative | 249 ✓ |
| Richard Cecil Ereaut Sheridan | Independent | 93 |
| K Chapman | Liberal Democrats | 46 |
| C Martin | Labour | 38 |
Wyke1 seat
| B McLennan | Conservative | 491 ✓ |
| F Evill | Independent | 262 |
| C Monksummers | Liberal Democrats | 200 |