This was the fourth election to the district council following the local government reforms in the 1970s.

Each ward elected one councillor using first-past-the-post voting.

[1] Labour maintained a large majority on the district council after winning 14 of the 18 seats, three more than the party had won at the previous election in 1980.

Despite increasing their vote share by more than 10%, the Conservatives only won three seats, two fewer than four years previous.

The final seat was won by the Scottish National Party (SNP).