CREATE TABLE table_204_223 (id NUMBER, "party" CLOB, "previous council" NUMBER, "staying councillors" NUMBER, "seats up for election" NUMBER, "election result" NUMBER, "new council" NUMBER)

what was the total of previous council ?
SELECT "previous council" FROM table_204_223 WHERE "party" = 'total'
SELECT "previous council" FROM "table_204_223" WHERE "party" = 'total'