A council has pleaded guilty to safety and health breaches after a woman died in a blaze in a block of flats.

Magdalena Fink, a 35-year-old paralegal, died in a blaze at her council-maintained block of flats in 31, Daleham Gardens, Hampstead, on November 21 2017.

Her inquest the following year heard that the fire started in a storage cupboard on the ground floor of the building. The hearing was told it was unclear whether there was anybody designated by the council to check smoke detectors.

Camden Council failed to act on a 2013 risk assessment, despite being warned the block urgently needed a new fire alarm system,
replacement fire doors, and the removal of flammable timber cladding on the single escape route.

At Westminster Magistrates' Court on March 1 the council pleaded guilty to two health and safety breaches regarding the lack of fire detectors and alarms and an escape route.

It now faces a fine which the prosecution said should be started at £2.4m, which the council said it will argue to reduce at the sentencing in May.

Liberal Democrat opposition leader Cllr Tom Simon said: "This is pretty serious, the council basically saying 'yes we killed someone through our failings'.

"The court heard the fine would be at least £2.4m, which is a lot of money as well so there are two ends to this - not only did someone die but it will leave a hole in the council's budgets as well when money is really tight and we don't know what the final figure will be yet. It's a very big deal."

He added: "Group leaders, myself and Gio (Spindella, Conservative group leader), were told late on Tuesday night that the council was going to plead guilty to this, I wasn't even aware there was a charge coming. Most members only found out after the plea hearing happened.

"There's been no dialogue about this, no discussions around the fine and the implication of that or the plea and the council's reputation and how we rebuild that."

He said £2.4 million would be "enough to retrofit 120 homes or other good things during a cost of living crisis and climate emergency".  

"We had a big meeting on Monday debating the council's budgets and we didn't know about this. There was no indication where that money will come from, what will have to give to meet that. It's very odd that it's shrouded in secrecy really."

A Camden spokesperson said the local authority would be entitled to up to one third off the fine that is handed down on account of its early guilty plea.

They said the council would present its mitigation, including financial information "in due course" to "enable the court to make an accurate assessment of its financial status".

The spokesperson added: “This was a tragic incident and our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies remain with everyone who knew Magdalena Fink.

“Camden Council accepts that when this incident occurred, Daleham Gardens did not meet the high standards of fire safety which the council has since committed to achieving across its housing.

"Camden Council is truly sorry for this, and has taken extensive action to reduce the risk of a similar incident taking place in the future.

They said the council is currently investing in a programme of fire safety works to ensure homes have appropriate fire doors, emergency lighting, fire alarms and fire stopping.

They added: "It has a dedicated and resilient fire safety team and has set up new forums for residents and the London Fire Brigade to raise safety concerns and issues. It has publicly committed to resident safety through its Fire and Building Safety Charter, which guides its approach on resident safety.”