Plaid Cymru lost ground to Labour in the Llanelli area but gained seats elsewhere, becoming the largest party.
Plaid Cymru held both seats in this ward for the first time, unseating an Independent member who had served for one term.
Plaid Cymru completed a clean sweep of all seats in Carmarthen Town by ousting Arthur Davies, a leading figure in People First, former Labour councillor and a member of the authority since 1999.
Hazel Evans had captured the seat in a by-election following the death of the previous Independent member, Haydn Jones.
Tom Theophilus, who had represented the area for decades narrowly held the seat against one of the most prominent opponents of the previous administration and a leading critic of Mark James, the Chief Executive of the Council.
Irfon Jones had represented Newchurch from 1995 until 1999 but was defeated by Dorrien Thomas when the enlarged Cynwyl Elfed ward was created following boundary changes.
Labour won by a large majority although Plaid Cymru's vote may have been affected by the decision of their former candidate, Clem Thomas, to stand for People First.
One-time Conservative John Paul Jenkins was returned for a third term with a much increased majority in a seat which has traditionally changed hands on a regular basis.
Clive Scourfield, the sitting Independent, stood down and there were press reports that Rupert Moon, former Llanelli and wales scrum-half was his chosen successor.
Sian Caiach, who took a seat for Plaid Cymru, subsequently left the party and joined People First following an internal dispute.
The sitting member, Rhys Davies stood down and the seat was won by Cefin Campbell, former director of Welsh language initiative, Mentrau Iaith Myrddin.
Labour held the seat by a small majority (but note that the percentage changes refer to the contest in the two-member ward in 2012.