Having secured the support of Independent and Liberal Democrat councillors, Labour formed a minority administration from July 2002 until the election in June 2004.
In June 2004 the whole council was up for election and following boundary changes the number of seats was increased to 43.
The Conservatives gained overall control of the council from a previous minority Labour administration.
The Labour party suffered heavy losses to the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and Independents.
The election result saw a fragmentation of the non-conservative vote; the emergence of the Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru onto the council.