At the 2014 elections, Labour won 43 seats (+3) and the Conservatives won 8 (-3). An Eltham North by-election on 10 November 2016 saw the Conservatives gain a seat from Labour with an 11% swing in their favour. This meant the opposition on the council increased to 9 seats.
The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Matthew Pennycook, who was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Greenwich and Woolwich constituency the same night.