A decision on whether to close a home for autistic children will be made next week.

Members of Brighton and Hove City Council's children, families and schools committee will debate the future of the Palmeira Project next Thursday.

The home, run by NCH Action for Children in Palmeira Avenue, Hove, has six places for children on the severe end of the autistic spectrum.

Closing it would save the council £150,000 next year and £363,000 in 2008-09.

Of the five current residents, who stay part-time at Palmeira to give their carers a break, two will shortly be moving to adult accommodation.

The remaining three, a 15-year-old girl and twin boys, aged 11, would be moved to a larger residential home in Drove Road, Portslade.

The facility, which serves 25 children with lesser needs on a part-time basis, would be adapted.

Opponents have complained that closing the Palmeira Project would reduce the provision for autistic children in Brighton and Hove.

The council said the home was disproportionately expensive to run and sometimes had only one child staying there.

Councillor Pat Hawkes, chairwoman of the children, families and schools committee, said the move would save taxpayers' money and provide a better service because Drove Road had more facilities.

The Palmeira Project, she said, was never fit for purpose and there had been complaints from neighbours about noise.

Coun Hawkes said: "It has been extraordinarily expensive as the young people have left. It has been apparent for some time that children coming up through the system don't present as acute a set of needs."

She said the council had worked closely with parents and that existing staff would be transferred to Drove Road. The contract with NCH ends in March but if the Palmeira Project is to close, the council will seek to extend the contract until September.

Coun Hawkes said the transition would be handled sensitively.

She said: "I am confident we have come to a conclusion that will be to the advantage of the young people."

Jane Vaughan, South East coordinator for the National Autistic Society, said that because children with autistic spectrum disorders had such unique needs, it was important parents had as wide a choice as possible about whether to look after them at home or in residential accommodation.

She was unable to comment specifically on the Palmeira Project but said it was better if parents could choose from a range of facilities.

The committee will meet at Brighton Town Hall on January 4 at 5pm.

The public and press will be excluded because confidential financial information will be discussed.