Due to demographic changes in the Borough since its formation in 1973, and in common with most other English Councils in 2004, substantial boundary changes were implemented in time for these elections.
Due to these changes, it was necessary for the whole Council to be re-elected for the first time since 1973. Each ward elected three candidates, with the first-placed candidate serving a four-year term of office, expiring in 2008, the second-placed candidate serving a three-year term of office, expiring in 2007, and the third-placed candidate serving a two-year term of office, expiring in 2006. The three Independent Labour candidates stood as "Independent Progressive Labour". Turnout was dramatically improved at 34.3%, up by a third upon the previous election and much higher than the norm set in recent elections of low twenties. The Labour Party retained overall control of the council, but with a majority reduced to the teens for the first time since the 1970s.[1][2]
Below is a list of the 32 individual wards with the candidates standing in those wards and the number of votes the candidates acquired. The winning candidates per ward are in bold.