I have problem when executing this code:
SELECT * FROM tblpm n WHERE date_updated=(SELECT MAX(date_updated) FROM tblpm GROUP BY control_number HAVING cont
There's no need to group in that subquery... a where clause would suffice:
SELECT * FROM tblpm n WHERE date_updated=(SELECT MAX(date_updated) FROM tblpm WHERE control_number=n.control_number)
Also, do you have an index on the 'date_updated' column? That would certainly help.