In the 2002 Harrogate Borough Council election, the Liberal Democrats had a minority on the council with 19 councillors only and 19 seats being contested for most of the time in which the changes increased the number of councillors by 20 from 19 to 39.
Before the election the Liberal Democrats had a majority on the council with 39 councillors, compared to 19 Conservatives and 1 Labour councillor. The changes reduced the number of councillors by five from 59 to 54, while increasing the number of wards from 32 to 35. 
