Under the council's election system, one-third of the total of 60 seats is contested each year, with councillors elected for four-year terms.

The new make-up of the authority is 27 Conservative, 23 Liberal Democrats, seven Labour, and three High Woods Independents.

Voting took place on Thursday, May 1, 2008.

* denotes sitting councillor before May 1

BERECHURCH
Majority: 53 Turnout: 1,988 (34%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Kim Naish	Labour	735
John Stevens	Liberal Democrats	682
Craig Sutton*	Conservatives	435
Philippa Lane	Green Party	136
CASTLE
Majority: 332 Turnout: 2,460 (38%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Henry Spyvee*	Liberal Democrats	1,111
Peter Lynn	Green Party	779
Darius Laws	Conservatives	434
John Cooke	Labour	136
DEDHAM & LANGHAM
Majority: 793 Turnout: 1,081 (46%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Christopher Garnett*	Conservatives	895
Carolyn Catney	Liberal Democrats	102
Andrew Maxwell	Labour	46
Sandra Moog	Green Party	38
EAST DONYLAND
Majority: 7 Turnout: 820 (41%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Michael Lilley	Labour	351
Peter Hare	Conservatives	344
Barry Woodward	Liberal Democrats	67
Tracy Lee-Newman	Green Party	58
HARBOUR
Majority: 456 Turnout: 1,227 (28%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Justin Knight*	Liberal Democrats	727
Barry McConnell	Conservatives	271
Barry Gilheany	Labour	141
Stephen Ford	Green Party	88
HIGHWOODS
Majority: 927 Turnout: 2,088 (31%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Beverley Oxford*	Independent	1,247
Anne Allan	Conservatives	320
John Baker	Liberal Democrats	230
Patrick Sullivan	British National Party	131
Jordan Newell	Labour	97
Robbie Spence	Green Party	63
LEXDEN
Majority: 602 Turnout: 1,731 (41%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Mike Hardy	Conservatives	1,079
John Loxley	Liberal Democrats	477
Clare Palmer	Green Party	104
Adam Fox	Labour	71
MARKS TEY
Majority: 327 Turnout: 606 (34%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Elizabeth Blundell	Conservatives	450
John Wood	Labour	123
Jo Hayes	Liberal Democrats	88
Roger Bamforth	Green Party	45
MILE END
Majority: 710 Turnout: 2,457 (39%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Martin Goss	Liberal Democrats	1,500
Brian Jarvis*	Conservatives	790
Mary Bryan	Green Party	84
Rossanna Trudgian	Labour	83
NEW TOWN
Majority: 769 Turnout: 1,671 (28%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Peter Higgins*	Liberal Democrats	1,046
Glenn Bath	Conservatives	277
Linda Wonnacott	Green Party	198
Luke Dopson	Labour	150
PRETTYGATE
Majority: 30 Turnout: 2,633 (44%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Beverly Davies	Conservatives	1,197
Paul Ost	Liberal Democrats	1,167
Michael Dale	Labour	142
Peter Appleton	Green Party	127
SHRUB END
Majority: 11 Turnout: 1,918 (30%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Nigel Offen	Liberal Democrats	822
Roger Buston*	Conservatives	811
Bruce Tuxford	Labour	196
Walter Schwarz	Green Party	89
ST. ANDREW'S
Majority: 341 Turnout: 1,636 (25%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Tina Dopson*	Labour	837
Mark Warner	Liberal Democrats	496
Alex Wilson	Conservatives	240
Andrew Senter	Green Party	63
ST. ANNE'S
Majority: 656 Turnout: 1,855 (29%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Helen Chuah*	Liberal Democrats	1,049
Steve Levy	Conservatives	393
Robert Fisher	Labour	272
Mervyn Carter	Green Party	141
ST. JOHN'S
Majority: 855 Turnout: 1,771 (42%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Paul Smith*	Liberal Democrats	1,244
Glenn Granger	Conservatives	389
Tobie Glenny	Green Party	79
Scott Harris	Labour	59
STANWAY
Majority: 45 Turnout: 2,453 (39%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Laura Sykes	Liberal Democrats	1,118
Andrew Ellis*	Conservatives	1,063
Carole Spademan	Labour	176
Pam Nelson	Green Party	96
TIPTREE
Majority: 771 Turnout: 1,845 (30%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Dick Martin	Conservatives	1,116
Jon Longman	Liberal Democrats	345
Audrey Spencer	Labour	242
Katherine Bamforth	Green Party	142
WEST MERSEA
Majority: 1,378 Turnout: 2,037 (35%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
John Bouckley*	Conservatives	1,583
Jenny Stevens	Liberal Democrats	195
Barbara Nichols	Labour	139
Beverley Maltby	Green Party	120
WIVENHOE CROSS
Majority: 200 Turnout: 1,116 (30%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Jon Manning	Liberal Democrats	577
Eugene Kraft*	Conservatives	377
Maria Iacovou	Green Party	83
Janet Smith	Labour	79
WIVENHOE QUAY
Majority: 160 Turnout: 1,841 (44%)
Candidate	Party	Votes
Ann Quarrie*	Conservatives	678
Jo Richardson	Labour	518
Chris Fox	Green Party	513
Claire Rodgers	Liberal Democrats	132