Posts per page limit not working

I have a custom template for the front page which uses WP Query to find the latest post and then the 3 most recent sticky posts (separate queries).

The first query is:

$args = array(
	'posts_per_page'=>1,
	'post_limits'=>1,
	'post_type' => 'post' );

$latest_query = new WP_Query( $args );

//The output code...
wp_reset_postdata();

Then the output code. The second query is:

$args2 = array(
	'posts_per_page' => 3,
	'post__in'  => get_option( 'sticky_posts' ));

$stick_query = new WP_Query( $args2 );

They are both ignoring the posts per page arguement and usingt he 10 posts setting as set in wordpress settings. I have tried adding in:

$latest_query->set(‘posts_per_page’, 1);

And also tried the limit filter, but none of these work.

I also have a plugin which shows the 3 sticky post but it too isn’t sticking to that limit. Please help!