It provides a broad range of local government services including Council Tax billing, libraries, social services, processing planning applications, waste collection and disposal, and it is a local education authority.

[11] Since then the council's full legal name has been 'The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham'.

The split of powers and functions meant that the Greater London Council was responsible for "wide area" services such as fire, ambulance, flood prevention, and refuse disposal; with the borough councils (including Barking and Dagenham) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection.

As an outer London borough council Barking and Dagenham has been a local education authority since 1965.

[13] Since 2000 the Greater London Authority has taken some responsibility for highways and planning control from the council, but within the English local government system the council remains a "most purpose" authority in terms of the available range of powers and functions.

It is a local education authority and is also responsible for council housing, social services, libraries, waste collection and disposal, traffic, and most roads and environmental health.

[24] Following the 2022 election and a subsequent change of allegiance in December 2022, the composition of the council was:[25][26] By-elections are scheduled for 28 November 2024 to replace Darren Rodwell (Abbey) and Margaret Mullane (Village) who resigned, and Lee Waker (Village) who died.

[30] After the council consolidated its functions at Barking Town Hall, the Dagenham building was disused by the council in 2017 and converted to become a campus of CU London, a higher education institute run by Coventry University.