Sounding the death knell for many shopping centres and in turn many Council services, as High Street business is a big funding source for them. Remember that 75% of your Council Tax goes to the Chancellor who decides each year what share each Council gets back and if that is to prop up services Council's can no longer afford because the High Street and associated income has dryed up................
http://www.which.co.uk/money/tax/guides/council-tax/understanding-council-tax/
So, unless legislative action is taken very promptly our +1's will be doing all their retail therapy from the telly etc
Thought: An immediate change could be brought about by changing VAT. Zero or very low VAT if bought by personal shoppers, compensated by raising VAT for online purchases. Might seem drastic and potential loopholes would need to be addressed, otherwise high streets will only go one way
Oh, and once the internet companies have all the business - surprise, surprise the big ones kill/buy off the smaller ones monopoly rules and prices rise. Meaning you and I are paying through the nose again.
Please tell me I am talking out of my posterior