Before (end of 2003) (60 seats, Elections Centre)
Liberal Democrats 25 · Conservative 24 · Other 6 · Labour 5
After (end of 2004) (60 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 28 · Liberal Democrats 22 · Labour 7 · Other 3
Ward results
Berechurch1 seat
| Craig Sutton | Liberal Democrats | 757 ✓ |
| Dave Harris | Labour | 504 |
| Pauline Sandra Hazell | Conservative | 394 |
Castle1 seat
| William Spyvee | Liberal Democrats | 1,185 ✓ |
| Pauline Lucas | Conservative | 566 |
| Mark Cann | Labour | 296 |
Dedham and Langham1 seat
| John Garnett | Conservative | 991 ✓ |
| Carolyn Catney | Liberal Democrats | 180 |
| Ian Yates | Labour | 84 |
East Donyland1 seat
| Andrew Raison | Labour | 428 ✓ |
| Patricia Sanderson | Conservative | 296 |
| Peter Byham | Independent | 159 |
| Barry Ronald Woodward | Liberal Democrats | 93 |
Harbour1 seat
| Justin Knight | Liberal Democrats | 594 ✓ |
| Susan Harper | Conservative | 292 |
| Dason Canning | Labour | 275 |
Highwoods1 seat
| Beverley Oxford | Independent | 807 ✓ |
| Paul Booker | Liberal Democrats | 507 |
| Shahid Husain | Conservative | 423 |
| Hugh Thomas | Labour | 163 |
Lexden1 seat
| Donald Henshall | Conservative | 1,194 ✓ |
| Helen Bayliss | Liberal Democrats | 569 |
| Alan Trudgian | Labour | 154 |
Marks Tey1 seat
| Richard Gower | Conservative | 517 ✓ |
| John Wood | Labour | 134 |
| Martin Verran | Liberal Democrats | 106 |
| Patrick Mead | Independent | 83 |
Mile End1 seat
| Brian David Henry Jarvis | Conservative | 681 ✓ |
| Peter Mecklenburgh | Liberal Democrats | 631 |
| Janet Smith | Labour | 166 |
New Town1 seat
| Pauline Higgins | Liberal Democrats | 972 ✓ |
| Glenn Bath | Conservative | 483 |
| Dave Hough | Labour | 302 |
Prettygate1 seat
| Ron Levy | Conservative | 1,304 ✓ |
| Jennifer Gray | Liberal Democrats | 1,151 |
| Luke Powell Dopson | Labour | 208 |
Shrub End1 seat
| Roger Buston | Conservative | 777 ✓ |
| Barry James | Liberal Democrats | 737 |
| Kim Naish | Labour | 512 |
St. Andrews1 seat
| Tina Dopson | Labour | 823 ✓ |
| Robert Johnston | Liberal Democrats | 378 |
| Anne Allan | Conservative | 357 |
St. Johns1 seat
| Peter John Harle Smith | Liberal Democrats | 929 ✓ |
| David Smith | Conservative | 587 |
| Martin Warne | Labour | 160 |
Stanway1 seat
| Alexander Ellis | Conservative | 1,027 ✓ |
| Gwendoline Ilott | Liberal Democrats | 839 |
| John Spademan | Labour | 285 |
Tiptree1 seat
| Dick Martin | Conservative | 925 ✓ |
| John Elliott | Independent | 741 |
| Alan Charles Leslie Mogridge | Labour | 590 |
West Mersea1 seat
| John Bouckley | Conservative | 1,581 ✓ |
| Audrey Spencer | Labour | 329 |
| Jenny Stevens | Liberal Democrats | 316 |
Wivenhoe Cross1 seat
| Eugene Kraft | Conservative | 420 ✓ |
| John Galpin | Liberal Democrats | 356 |
| A Mackenzie | Labour | 129 |
Wivenhoe Quay1 seat
| Christine Quar | Conservative | 629 ✓ |
| Robert Newman | Independent | 476 |
| Tim Prosser | Labour | 322 |
| Jeremy Jacobs | Liberal Democrats | 293 |