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

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'