Governance . The principal local authorities in the area are the London borough councils of Barking and Dagenham , Hackney , Havering , Newham , Redbridge , Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest .
This area now makes up the London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham , Hackney , Havering , Newham , Redbridge , Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest .