Do I need all the books or just one, where you mentioned I should get a guide to the regulations (3rd book) is that not what the second book is also?
The second one is a guide to the Building Regulations, not the Wiring Regulations, but it does assume that compliance with the latter is the way that you'll achieve compliance with Part P of the former, and the electrical info in it comes from BS 7671.
Whitfield and Scadden etc are purely guides to the Wiring Regulations.
Which book would be recommended for a DIY installer
Without any doubt the first two above, and a guide to the Wiring Regulations. Given this specific job you are doing I'd say that GN1 would also be useful.
Whether you would also benefit from one of the DIY books listed in the For Reference topic I don't know.
would I find out in there if its best to have a RCD feeding the entire supply or one in the garage for sockets (or everything?) or don't use one at all?
You'll certainly find out that the last option is not allowed....
As for where best to have it, once you understand the pros and cons of the alternatives you'll be able to decide which is best for you. It's all part of becoming
genuinely competent to design and install the supply to the garage, and the CU and final circuits in it.
What sort of fees am I looking at to get this inspected by the council (including consumer box and sockets, lights in the garage).
Ask them - it'll be on their website. Be aware that it is quite likely that they don't do things properly, and will effectively try to stop you from DIYing.
What sort of fees am i looking at to get a qualified 'person' to do this - I'm guessing £200 to £2000 ish more likely £1k? (estimated on the lack of work and ~£160/hour charged by a 'competant' person to install a gas hob - who incidentally had the balls to charge me more because they had to goto the shop to get a 15mm isolater tap which I can't believe they dont carry!)
Can't see it can't quote it, as they say. But few electricians are frustrated navvies, so you'll be able to keep the cost down by digging the trench yourself.
TBH, if you want to do this properly, i.e. notify & DIY vs getting an electrician to do it, the latter will probably be cheaper. And certainly cheaper than notify, DIY and do your own testing (which the council probably won't do) - it depends how much electrical work you see yourself doing in the future, and what kind of investment in learning and buying test equipment you want to make.
Anyway this is a lot to replace the 10A cable running round the flowerbed!
Yo - please do replace it.
