sticky notes

"Sticky notes"?? Which app are you talking about? The new Notes app in iOS? If so, then no. They sync with icloud which then syncs down to all other devices you may have connected to the same account. However, when you delete a note on a device or even in icloud.com (via a browser), then that action propagates to all other devices. The note is deleted everywhere. Notes are not part of an icloud backup from an iOS device.

Pvonk

I know it's hard to tell from the OP question but:

If he had a recentiTunes back-up - would he he would be able to recover them at least up to the time of his back-up?

The support document indicates Notes are part of an iTunes back-up

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4946?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Cheers

Local Notes Account is part of the iTunes and (I believe) iCloud backup.

I'm not sure about iCloud Notes Account. I believe that is not part of the backup but I said I'm not sure.