Elections to the new City of Yorkunitary authority were held on 4 May 1995, although the new unitary authority wasn't officially created until April 1996. All 53 council seats in the city were up for election and the Labour Party won overall control of the council.
Labour had controlled the 1973-1995York City Council as a majority group since 1986 but following the creation of an expanded City of York unitary authority 22 councillors were returned to represent parished areas previously part of the more rural district council areas of Ryedale (14 councillors), Selby (6) and Harrogate (2). These areas were generally considered to be less fertile territory for Labour. The 15 former York City Council wards were unchanged for this election but each unitary ward elected two councillors, rather than three. The only exception was Foxwood Ward, which continued to return three councillors on the basis of population growth.
In the context of a nationwide disaster for the Conservative Party, Labour won all but four of the former York City Council wards (all four were held by the Liberal Democrats), including both seats in Micklegate, previously a safe Conservative ward. In the parished areas outside the former York city council boundary Labour won three seats (Fulford, Heslington and Copmanthorpe) and the Liberal Democrats won 14. The Conservatives were reduced to just three seats and two Independent councillors were also elected.
* Represented the Bishopthorpe ward of Selby District Council, 1987-1996, [5] and the Bishopthorpe / Copmanthorpe division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1989-1996[3]
* Represented the Dunnington ward of Selby District Council, 1979-1996[5]
† Represented the Dunnington ward of Selby District Council, 1976-1996, [5] and the Dunnington division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1985-1996[3]
* Represented the Westfield ward of York City Council, 1973-1979, the Foxwood ward of York City Council, 1979-1996, [2] the Westfield division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1973-1985, and the Foxwood division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1985-1996[3]
† Represented the Foxwood ward of York City Council, 1990-1996[2]
‡ Represented the Clifton ward of York City Council, 1991-1996[2]
* Represented the Guildhall division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1985-1996[3]
† Represented the Acomb ward of York City Council, 1979-1984, the Guildhall ward of York City Council, 1988-1996, [2] and the Acomb division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1981-1989[3]
* Represented the Haxby North East ward of Ryedale District Council, 1991-1996, [4] and the Haxby / Strensall division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1993-1996[3]
† Represented the Haxby North East ward of Ryedale District Council, 1983-1996[4]
‡ Represented the Haxby / Wigginton division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1993-1996[3]
* Represented the Heworth ward of York City Council, 1980-1996[2]
† Represented the Heworth division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1989-1993[3]
‡ Represented the Huntington North ward of Ryedale District Council, 1987-1991, and the Huntington South ward of Ryedale District Council, 1991-1996[4]
* Represented the Heworth Without ward of Ryedale District Council, 1973-1983, and the Osbaldwick and Heworth ward of Ryedale District Council, 1983-1996[4]
* Represented the Huntington South ward of Ryedale District Council, 1983-1996[4]
† Represented the Huntington North division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1993-1996[3]
‡ Represented the New Earswick ward of Ryedale District Council, 1987-1991, [4] and the Huntington South division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1985-1996[3]
§ Represented the New Earswick ward of Ryedale District Council, 1991-1996[4]
* Represented the Beckfield ward of York City Council, 1983-1996, [2] and the Derwent number 2 division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1981-1985[3]
† Represented the Osbaldwick / Heworth division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1985-1996[3]