Before (end of 2001) (60 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 31 · Labour 25 · Other 2 · Conservative 2
After (end of 2002) (60 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 29 · Labour 28 · Conservative 2 · Other 1
Ward results
Alexandra1 seat · turnout 49.3%
| Ali | Labour | 1,591 ✓ |
| Lockett | BNP | 788 |
| Riley | Independent | 492 |
| Miah | Liberal Democrats | 226 |
| Stephenson | Conservative | 177 |
| Roney | Green | 164 |
Chadderton Central1 seat · turnout 36.5%
| Greenwood | Labour | 1,477 ✓ |
| Bennett | Conservative | 747 |
| McInnes | Liberal Democrats | 453 |
| Stevens | Green | 384 |
Chadderton North1 seat · turnout 57.6%
| Quinn | Labour | 1,673 ✓ |
| J. Farquar | Conservative | 919 |
| J McCann | Liberal Democrats | 422 |
| Lancaster | Green | 306 |
Chadderton South1 seat · turnout 43.3%
| Hibbert | Labour | 1,575 ✓ |
| Fullard | BNP | 965 |
| Bowling | Conservative | 325 |
| Renold | Liberal Democrats | 224 |
| Turner | — | 139 |
| English Metropolitan | — | 0 |
Coldhurst1 seat · turnout 58.5%
| Jabbar | Labour | 2,425 ✓ |
| Miah | Liberal Democrats | 1,612 |
| Heeks | Conservative | 297 |
| Stevens | Green | 287 |
Crompton1 seat · turnout 39.5%
| Dillon | Liberal Democrats | 1,797 ✓ |
| Dunning | Conservative | 717 |
| Jones | Labour | 682 |
| Czernuszka | Green | 210 |
Failsworth East1 seat · turnout 33.6%
| Currie | Labour | 1,633 ✓ |
| Siddall | Liberal Democrats | 1,104 |
Failsworth West1 seat · turnout 30.6%
| Harrison | Labour | 1,700 ✓ |
| Malcolm Lewis | Liberal Democrats | 552 |
Hollinwood1 seat · turnout 47.4%
| Williams | Labour | 1,246 ✓ |
| Joynes | Liberal Democrats | 1,094 |
| Treacy | BNP | 736 |
Royton North1 seat · turnout 48.0%
| Judge | Labour | 1,836 ✓ |
| Dobson | BNP | 973 |
| Mills | Liberal Democrats | 626 |
| Bryan Lees | Conservative | 512 |
Royton South1 seat · turnout 44.1%
| Harrison | Labour | 1,623 ✓ |
| Phelan | Liberal Democrats | 1,346 |
| Owens | Conservative | 547 |
Saddleworth East1 seat · turnout 48.3%
| Knowles | Liberal Democrats | 2,525 ✓ |
| Hudson | Conservative | 1,628 |
| Hickling | Labour | 900 |
Saddleworth West1 seat · turnout 44.0%
| Lord | Liberal Democrats | 2,010 ✓ |
| Jackson | Conservative | 1,026 |
| Fryer | Labour | 916 |
Shaw1 seat · turnout 35.0%
| Farrell | Liberal Democrats | 1,691 ✓ |
| Manning | Labour | 693 |
| Drinkwater | Conservative | 425 |
St James'1 seat · turnout 58.1%
| Jacqueline McArdle | Liberal Democrats | 1,020 |
| Goodwin | BNP | 929 |
| Fitzpatrick | Labour | 599 |
| Hulme | Conservative | 105 |
St Mary's1 seat
| Shah | Labour | 1,693 ✓ |
| Iqbal | Liberal Democrats | 1,146 |
| Atherton | Conservative | 462 |
| Swift S. Ms. | — | 233 |
St Pauls1 seat · turnout 46.9%
| Ball | Labour | 1,323 ✓ |
| Rogers | Conservative | 721 |
| Mohammed | Independent | 645 |
| Roney | Green | 497 |
| Stocks | Liberal Democrats | 408 |
Waterhead1 seat · turnout 38.1%
| Dugdale | Liberal Democrats | 1,730 ✓ |
| Leyden | Labour | 1,410 |
| Caddick | Conservative | 452 |
Werneth1 seat · turnout 56.5%
| F. Hussein | Labour | 2,028 |
| F Rahim | Liberal Democrats | 1,363 |
| Walmsley | Conservative | 421 |
| Moughal | Independent | 307 |